Geoscience Reports --- No. 25, Spring 1998

GEOSCIENCE REPORTS — Number 25, Spring 1998

p.1 • Historical Biogeography of South America, Part I: Living Vertebrates • Jim Gibson
p.7 • Editor's Angle
p.7 • Science Notes
Biology
p.8 • Geoscience News
Roth Honored by GC Education Department

EDITOR'S ANGLE

This issue of Geoscience Reports begins a 2-part article on the biogeography of South America. Dr. Jim Gibson, the director of Geoscience Research Institute has studied the distribution of organisms in Australia and South America. His research addresses the question of the redistribution of the terrestrial organisms after the Genesis flood. He discusses those organisms that may have survived outside of the ark as well as the mystery posed by those isolated communities of animals that seem to have no history of migration. Part I of this article deals briefly with the distribution of the living organisms in South America. Part II will discuss the fossil record of South America.
We hope that this information will be helpful to teachers in their classroom discussions concerning issues raised by the Genesis Flood. This paper is not intended to prove that the Flood occurred or that the migrations occurred or that any of the dispersal patterns are proof of the Flood. The paper does demonstrate that some of the data can be explained in the context of a Flood theory and that some of the data is difficult to reconcile with that theory. We hope this paper will spark discussion and interest in further research.

SCIENCE NOTES

Biology

Pedersen, K. 1997. Microbial life in deep granitic rock: Episodes 20(1):7-9.

Citing other authors as well as his own work, Pedersen reports that researchers have been developing a model to describe the processes by which anaerobic bacteria combine hydrogen with carbon dioxide to produce acetate. Pure cultures of the bacteria have been recovered from boreholes that range from 10 to 440 meters deep. He is already predicting a subterranean biosphere that extends several kilometers below the earth=s surface. Pedersen suggests that life may have originated at great depth within igneous rocks. He also speculates that we should search, not only the surface but also the subsurface of other planets for life forms.

GEOSCIENCE NEWS

Roth Honored by GC Education Department

    On March 19,1997, Dr. Humberto Rasi, Director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists= Department of Education, awarded the Medallion of Distinction to Dr. Ariel A. Roth. The award was presented during the Adventist Higher Education Summit at Loma Linda University.
    Dr. Roth=s denominational service began at Pacific Union College in 1950. He was a biology instructor there until 1957. From 1958-63, Dr. Roth served as a Professor of Biology and as the Biology Department Chair at Andrews University. In 1963 Dr. Roth moved to Loma Linda, CA, to serve as Biology Professor and Biology Department Chairman at Loma Linda University. He continued in that position until he joined Geoscience Research Institute in 1971. From 1980-94 he served as the GRI director. During his employment at GRI, Dr. Roth edited Origins and led numerous field conferences for 20 years.
    The General Conference Education Department honored Dr. Roth for his many years of teaching and for his service to the worldwide church through his lectures and publications. The staff at GRI congratulates Dr. Roth for this well deserved award.

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