Evolution of Skull and Mandible Shape in Cats

28 July 2008

 Christiansen P conducted a study of over 400 specimens of 24 species of sabretoothed and feline cats. The purpose was to determine a hypothesis (Thank you Christiansen for using the correct scientific terminology) of how the felines and sabercats diverged from a common ancestor. Thousands of measurements were compiled and graphed to show the differences between the artifacts. While all this may include good (empirical, measurable) science, there is one flaw... The presupposition that evolution happened determined the outcome of the work before the data was compiled.

 If you have already assumed the animals had a common ancestor then you will derive results like this: "Evolution of skull and mandible shape in modern cats has been governed by the need for uniform powerful biting irrespective of body size, whereas in sabrecats, shape evolution was governed by selective pressures for efficient predation with hypertrophied upper canines at high gape angles, and bite forces were secondary and became progressively weaker during sabrecat evolution."

 The author has taken the tangible, measurable evidence of skull shape and size and then drew a conclusion that could never be determined by the measurements taken. Evolution does not create or adapt anything to have a better result because evolution does not know what the better result will be. To say "the need for uniform powerful biting" is what caused the skull to be shaped correctly for "powerful biting" would be like saying "My car became more fuel efficient because gas got more expensive and I could not afford to get to work." My car does not know gas is more expensive nor does it have the ability to become more efficient without adding something.

 Skull shape is predetermined by the genetic code that is within the cells at the time the creature is born. Even small gradual changes can not create new useful information that would be passed down for enough generations for selection to happen. Having one more Newton of biting force than your brother is not going to cause your seed to die off due to natural selection for enough generations to make a difference.

 If the Bible is true then having two different kinds of cats is not a problem. If evolution is true having any cats is a problem.

1. Natural selection does not know enough to meet a need or a want.
2. This all assumes they had a common ancestor.
3. Good science can lead to bad conclusions if your presupposition is wrong.

http://www.plosone.org​/article​/info​%3Adoi​%2F10.1371​%2Fjournal.​pone.​0002807