A Living Cell Under An Electron Microscope [Spirituality & Religion]

@spjennifer Made from the bits and pieces he had left over. ;)

@spjennifer [quote]But what about the Platypus? It blows your theories all to hell![/quote]

Not at all. The Platypus is a perfect example of God's intelligent design.

@GodSpeed63 Riggggghttt! 😆

@GodSpeed63 To quote an infamous Australian politician, "please explain".

@Bushranger [quote]To quote an infamous Australian politician, "please explain".[/quote]

What's there to explain?

@GodSpeed63 Oh dear, how about what it is about the platypus that makes it "... a perfect example of God's intelligent design...."?

Not a difficult question.

@Bushranger [quote]Oh dear, how about what it is about the platypus that makes it "... a perfect example of God's intelligent design...."?[/quote]

Have you ever seen one?

@GodSpeed63 Yes, I have. Both in a zoo and in the wild. Beautiful example of evolution.

@Bushranger [quote]Beautiful example of evolution.[/quote]

So, how did evolution have the knowledge, the intelligence, the wisdom, and the skill to create such a mammal?

@GodSpeed63 What's so special about them that they had to be "created"? The adaptations can all be explained by evolution far more effectively than creation.

@Bushranger [quote]What's so special about them that they had to be "created"? The adaptations can all be explained by evolution far more effectively than creation.[/quote]

Evolution couldn't explain the origin of that mammal, what makes you think it can explain the mammal was formed by adaptations?

@GodSpeed63 And what about it do you consider to be so special it can't be explained by evolution? The fact it lays eggs? It's not the only one, but then again, there's only two extant examples of monotremes, so it's not a big sample. But if we look at it from an evolutionary perspective, it can be seen as being midway between reptiles and mammals. Something that would be expected.

Is it the fact it has skeletal similarities to reptiles? Again, not a clincher for creation. Why wouldn't there be a group of animals that have characteristics of both?

Is it the fact it has venomous spines on the hind legs of males? Again, makes sense in evolutionary terms as defence against other males during the breeding season.

Is it the electroreceptors on the muzzle that help them find food? Platypuses are not the only mammal to have these, they are also found on echidnas and the Guiana dolphin. Obviously not restricted to the platypus, but makes sense in terms of finding prey hidden under debris and litter. Interestingly, platypuses close their eyes when they dive. A good designer would have created eyes that could see both above and below water.

Anything I missed?

@Bushranger An excellent description and explanation for the Evolution of the Platypus! 😊

@spjennifer Thank you. I'll admit it's pretty much off the top of my head, but it makes a lot more sense than having it just magically created like it is. But the changes in dentition shown in the fossil record certainly does show a long history of specialisation over an extended period of time.

@Bushranger Agreed, what gets me is them saying that it was from Creation because they say it is and the rest of us are all wrong! They simply have no valid proof!

@GodSpeed63 Tell me, in your belief, did the platypus get a berth on the ark, or was it made to swim for the whole year? I suppose they would have been easier to feed than the echidnas because they lived on aquatic animals. Oh, no, hang on. They live on freshwater animals that live in relatively shallow conditions. Not going to find that in the biblical flood.

@Bushranger Thanks for the information about the platypus. I'm not a biologist so you've told me a lot I didn't previously know. It can only be the product of evolution.

@Sharon Hey, I could be wrong about the details, wouldn't be the first time and won't be the last. But I think the basics are correct. Interestingly, everyone talks about the platypus, probably because they are somewhat cute, but ignore the echidna. Both monotremes are remarkable and unique.

@Bushranger [quote]Tell me, in your belief, did the platypus get a berth on the ark[/quote]

Read the scriptures, what do they tell you?

@GodSpeed63 I asked what YOU believe. I ask because I notice AIG have dropped the belief that all land based life was destroyed. So interpretation of the scriptures is obviously OK now.

@GodSpeed63 [quote]Read the scriptures, what do they tell you?[/quote]
That they're just a collecton of myths and superstitions. But we all knew that already.

@Bushranger [quote] I ask because I notice AIG have dropped the belief that all land based life was destroyed.[/quote]
Are they really now doubting "God's word"? That's astounding!

@Lynda70 I was interested to see what they said about insects on the ark. My thinking was that echidnas must have been on it, because they are alive today. But echidnas only eat termites and ants, so Noah would have need to have had colonies of those insects on board. Mind you, the idea of having at least one large colony of termites on board a wooden ship for a year is interesting.

So, I looked up the AIG site and, sure enough, there it was, in black and white, possibly more than two of each insect even with the idea that Noah and crew might have used some of them to compost the animal waste (wouldn't it have been easier to just jettison it?). The also talked about the possibility of insect colonies surviving on rafts of vegetation. Clearly not a literal interpretation of the story.

But it's interesting that they try to use all "science" to prove their interpretations, but reject actual science because it doesn't fit their agenda.