Natural Selection Cannot Increase Genetic Information, Argues Creation Museum
The Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, has published an article arguing that natural selection, as observed in nature, cannot increase genetic information and therefore cannot drive macroevolution. The article distinguishes natural selection—a process that preserves advantageous traits within a population—from molecules-to-man evolution, which requires the origin of new genetic information. It claims that natural selection only acts on existing genetic diversity, leading to a net loss of information, and that changes are nondirectional (e.g., fish remain fish). The piece references Charles Darwin's finches and blind cavefish exhibits at the museum to illustrate its points. It concludes that natural selection demonstrates God's care for creation in a post-fall world.
Key facts
- Natural selection is an observable process resulting in small changes like fur color or plant height.
- The National Academy of Sciences states natural selection can have different evolutionary effects over different time scales.
- Darwin believed natural selection could lead to large changes over millions of years, such as dinosaurs evolving into birds.
- Evolution is defined as descent with modification from a common single-celled ancestor, requiring new genetic information.
- Natural selection preserves population viability by removing harmful characteristics.
- Changes via natural selection are nondirectional; fish remain fish.
- The article is published by the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.
- The museum exhibits include blind cavefish and blind mice to illustrate natural selection.
Entities
Artists
- Charles Darwin
Institutions
- Creation Museum
- National Academy of Sciences
Locations
- Petersburg
- Kentucky
- Galápagos Islands