Geoscience Research Institute

Change in Species

Many kinds of animals appear designed for predation and violence, in contrast to what one would expect based on the biblical description of Edenic peace. It seems that animal species must have changed in major ways since the creation, but is this idea compatible with biblical teachings? Learn more about change in species from this short article: https://www.grisda.org/change-in-species-biblical-or-not-1

Complexity and Interdependency

We begin the Biology section by describing the characteristics and composition of living things. We then review the concept of Abiogenesis (the appearance of the first living being from non-living matter) and the serious difficulties faced by this theory, which is necessary for the naturalistic perspective of the origin of life. Finally, by means of examples relating to the different levels of study of biology (cells, organs, organisms and ecosystems), we show how the high complexity and interdependence found in all of them point to a superintelligent Creator who designed complete and functional systems from the beginning.

Natural Selection and Altruism

Altruistic behaviors are a challenge to the theory of evolution because those organisms that put the benefit of others ahead of their own should be eliminated by natural selection. However, altruistic behaviors are relatively common in nature. In this session we explore some examples of collaboration, empathy, and altruism in plants and animals. We also discuss how these behaviors are explained depending on the worldview of the researchers.

Design in Ecology

In the Darwinian view, life is locked into a struggle for survival in which every organism is in a competition to the death and only the most fit survive. Is struggle and competition really what we observe in the relationships between organisms? Or is there a far more beautiful principle to be discovered if we take the time to actually look at how life works?

Noemí Durán - Natural Selection, Epigenetics, and Environment

Noemí Durán is a biologist specialized in animal behavior. She has a PhD in Marine Biology from Loma Linda University and is the director of the European headquarters of the Geoscience Research Institute.

Noemí Durán - In the Beginning, There Was Love

“Survival of the fittest" and “struggle for existence." You have probably heard these expressions before, likely in connection with one of the most famous concepts in evolution: natural selection. Competition and violence are presented as the necessary tool that allowed for the emergence of biodiversity, in contrast with the biblical account of a “very good" creation. In this talk, Dr. Durán illustrates fascinating examples of altruism and cooperation in the animal world, challenging the dominant narrative and pointing back to the time when animals were designed to show the loving character of God.

The Theory of Evolution

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was based on natural selection as the engine of change in living beings. Later, with the advances in genetics, mutation was added to the theory as the source of the variations on which natural selection would act. The mutation-natural selection binomial thus became the main mechanism proposed for biological diversity. Do mutation and natural selection have the creative capacity assigned to them? Can they transform an organism into a different one by means of small changes accumulated over a long period of time? Are there other natural mechanisms that can do the job?

Leonard R. Brand - Science, Evolution, and Fossils

Leonard R. Brand is a researcher and professor of Biology and Paleontology at Loma Linda University. He has published his research in scientific journals and has a PhD from Cornell University.

Timothy Standish - Mutations, Darwin, and Theory of Evolution

Timothy Standish is a biologist specialized in genetics and has a PhD from George Mason University. He is a Senior Researcher and responsible for communication and audiovisual production at the Geoscience Research Institute.

Good Creation and Natural Evil

Despite the creation’s elegance and beauty, it is clear that there is something wrong in the world. Where does all the death and suffering marring the creation come from? How does the Bible help us to understand the current state of the creation and the Creator’s solution to the problem?

Related Videos

Change in Species

Complexity and Interdependency

Natural Selection and Altruism

Design in Ecology

Noemí Durán - Natural Selection, Epigenetics, and Environment

Noemí Durán - In the Beginning, There Was Love

The Theory of Evolution

Leonard R. Brand - Science, Evolution, and Fossils

Timothy Standish - Mutations, Darwin, and Theory of Evolution

Good Creation and Natural Evil

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