The evolution of
feathers: a major problem for Darwinism
The evolution of
feathers: a major problem for Darwinism
“The origin of birds has always been a major problem for
Darwinism, and even today little agreement exists about their evolution. One of
the most difficult issues related to bird evolution is the evolution of
feathers. Feathers are complex, designed structures required for flight, and are
today found only on birds. A literature review on the evolution of bird feathers
showed that even though feathers are found as far back as the Cretaceous,
including many well-preserved samples in amber, the fossil record fails to
provide solid evidence for feather evolution. The implications of this major
difficulty for Darwinism are discussed in this article.
The presence of feathers for flight has allowed birds to spread to every corner
of the globe. Their coloration, songs, and flight make them a marvel of God’s
creation.
Animal skin types range from a thin structure seen in worms to scaly reptiles,
feathered birds, and furry mammals. Each of these skin types performs a
different function, and the information is different for each type of structure
in the skin. Scales, hair, horns, nails, claws, and feathers are all made of the
protein keratin and are outgrowths of the skin. Though they are all made of
keratin, they are different forms of keratin.
The structure of a feather is much more complex than it appears. Each feather
contains a main shaft, barbs, and barbules on the barbs, which contain many
small hooklets and grooves that act like Velcro to hold the feather together.
There are over a dozen types of feathers.
The nervous system to control flight is amazingly complex. The complex system of
brain, muscles, lungs, tendons, and feathers must have evolved all at once in an
irreducibly complex system. Each part by itself would not be likely to provide a
survival advantage. The sudden appearance of fully formed feathers in the fossil
record supports the idea of special creation.
Many evolutionists hypothesize that feathers actually evolved for insulation and
were later exploited for flight by modification. Some disagree with this idea,
and it is still contested.
The origin of flight in evolutionary hypotheses ranges from tree-down gliders to
ground-up flyers. As there is no evidence for either theory, the speculative
debate continues. Feathers and bird bones are relatively abundant in the fossil
record, with 79% of the 329 living families known as fossils. No transitional
structures between scales, skin, and feathers are known from the fossil record,
suggesting birds appeared suddenly—during Day 5 of Creation Week.
The complex differences between reptilian scales and bird feathers mean that a
set of intermediate steps would have been needed, none of which are seen in the
fossils. A hair-like follicle must have developed, making the evolutionary
connection between hair and feathers more plausible. The problem is that this
would not fit the other evolutionary evidence; so a story must be imagined to
explain the miraculous development. The development from the billows-style lungs
of reptiles to the unique features of the birds’ respiratory system is another
insurmountable problem for Darwinists. The evidence clearly points to the
amazing design of the Divine Creator of the Bible.” Evolution Exposed, Second
Ed.,
The evolution of feathers: a major problem for Darwinism,
Bergman.
Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "lot of
pictures..."
Drawn that way in textbooks for the benefit of
unsuspecting children? :rolleyes:
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." Jessica Rabbit
...feather problem.
Response to comment [from an agnostic]: "Why do you just copy and paste an article from a website?"
Isa 46:9, 2 Pe 1:12.
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "I don't know any scientist who is familiar with the evidence who doesn't think they evolved from dinosaurs or the the codont ancestors of dinosaurs."
Do all naturalistic scientists agree that dinosaurs evolved into birds?
"[W]e know that feathers evolved and we have a rough idea how they did evolve."
Do you think all naturalistic scientists would agree with your statement?
"What theory of creation?"
Genesis 1-11 is an account of history. Evolution is a theory.
The evolution of
feathers: a major problem for Darwinism