Evolution, Creation Science, and Speciation

Except for a few uninstructed people, creationists and evolutionists agree that speciation occurs. When it comes to the mechanisms, benefits, purposes, limitations, and so forth, that's when we're going to be having us some disagreements. Whether through natural or artificial means, hybridization occurs.

Liger (lion-tiger hybrid) image credit: Ali West (CC by 2.0)

Advocates of muck-to-monkey evolution have a heap of difficulty explaining speciation and its limitations. Biblical creation science advocates have explanations and speculations that fit the observed data. The article linked below discusses the origin of diversity, the purpose of it in the Creator's plan, the role of genetics and epigenetics, and more. What about hybrid sterility? There could be a purpose in that as well, but thoughts on this are still being developed. I reckon that this is a show-stopper for evolution, what with sterile hybrids not continuing the changes and all, but that's just me.

While informed creationists recognize that species are not equivalent to kinds, we don’t have an adequate understanding of why different species exist within the various created kinds. Using the biblical history and information from the scientific literature, it appears there is good reason why speciation occurs. Organisms diversify as they reproduce and fill the earth. Maintaining separate diverse populations, which biologists usually classify as different species, provides a reservoir for variability. Through hybridization, this variability can be shared between the populations. There are examples where this has enabled a population to recover from unusually harsh environmental extremes. It has also been proposed that it provides the basis for adaptive radiation, where organisms rapidly diversify and fill a variety of environmental niches. In the end, the process we call speciation appears to be an important means by which God provides for His creatures even in the current fallen world.

To read the rest of this technical article (be prepared to spend about half an hour with it if this material suits you), click on "Towards a creationary view of why speciation occurs".