Does Witnessing Speciation Prove Evolution?
Initially, this seems like an odd question to ask since evolution is generally regarded as a very slow process that takes far too long to be able to witness. Yet, when something happens quickly and is witnessed they still claim it is evolution. In recent years many articles have appeared that state evolution has happened in various animals and plants. This includes such examples as the Hawthorn fly, the three-spined sticklebacks, and cichlid fishes.
However, the question is … was this really evolution?
This news article says they ‘watched a new bird species evolve‘. Regarding the same event, another headline mentions ‘instant evolution seen.’ Those are bold claims, especially if you go back and read the original research paper where the title only mentions ‘hybrid speciation‘. In the paper, while evolution is talked about, it is never directly stated that the birds are evolving. The researchers were quite specific discussing hybridization; but the previous news headlines changed this to evolution.
In essence, the news media inserted their interpretation or worldview onto their report on the research.
GALLERY: Sample Venn Diagram, Yellow Leaf Venn Diagram, Speciation Venn Diagram, Goose Kind Samples,
To understand why evolutionists often claim more than they should, I will turn to a Venn diagram. In such a diagram, concepts are represented by shapes. Often, there is an area of overlap and areas of separation. The area of overlap are things both concepts have in common and the separate space are things unique to each concept.
For example, if a tree appears unhealthy, one might be able to determine there is a problem in the ground. One possibility is poor soil nutrition or improper pH balance. Another possibility is a root boring insect is eating the roots. As the problem progresses, the leaves wilt and become yellow.
So which concept does this prove? Neither. Yellow wilted leaves is apparent in both concepts so it proves neither one. In fact many things cause yellow wilted leaves, even the simple act of over watering a plant. Therefore, you need something else to show what is causing the plant to have problems and have wilted yellow leaves.
Good options are to either test the soil minerals or look for the insects by digging up some soil or finding the adults after they have emerged from the ground. These findings could prove one concept or the other.
Now lets do a diagram for speciation. When I place the model of created kinds and the model of evolution on the screen, people are often surprised to see that there is overlap between the models. While they do differ on many things, there are actually a few things in common, and speciation is one of them.
Both models expect speciation to occur. Therefore, just because speciation occurs does not prove one concept or the other. Neither the news outlets, nor the scientists should claim evolution has occurred or been witnessed just because speciation has occurred. Instead, one must look for other details such as what causes speciation to give evidence to one or the other. The model of created kinds expects rapid speciation because it deals with already existing genetics while the model of evolution expects new genetic material from mutation and natural selection, necessarily a slow process.
To state that speciation has been witnessed, seen, or watched means that rapid speciation has occurred. This actually fits the creation model much better than the evolution model.
Goose Kind Samples
If we go back to the first research paper, we will notice something common to claims of evolution being witnessed: Hybridization. One species of finch mated with another species of finch and produced … a finch.
The model of created kinds expects hybridization to occur between species within a kind. For example, the Canada goose will prefer to mate with another Canada goose. However, when one is not available, it can mate with other geese or even with ducks or swans. In fact, the Canada Goose is known to hybridize across 7 genera within potentially (*depending on the classification system used) 4 different sub-families. These are all part of the same kind.
In contrast, the evolutionary model expects hybridization to be rare because species are typically defined as being reproductively isolated. Once again, we find the observation in the research paper—that speciation has occurred by hybridization—fits better in the creation model than the evolution model.
In summary,
- Speciation has been witnessed
- Rapid speciation favors the creation model.
- Hybridization favors the creation model.
- Lack of new genetic material favors the creation model.
So we need not worry when we see headlines stating that evolution has been witnessed. Instead, check out the facts and recognize speciation for what it really is.