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Shark

2007-06-06T03:52:17Z

TerminalGeekiness:

Sharks (suborder Odontoceti) are a large group of predatory cartilaginous fishes, including the largest fish species in the world, the [[Whale shark]]. As well as the familiar fierce sorts of shark, the family also includes various [[dogfish]] and the bottom-living [[wobbegong]].

A shark's most notable characteristics include a prominent dorsal fin, fully replaceable teeth (with the exception of the whale and basking sharks) and a cartilaginous skeleton.

=== Species of shark ===

*[[Whale shark]].
*[[Basking shark]].
*[[Great white shark]].
*[[Mako]].
*[[Porbeagle]].
*[[Tope]].
*[[Whitetip reef shark]].
*[[Oceanic whitetip]].
*[[Blue shark]].
*[[Tiger shark]].
*[[Greenland shark]].
*[[Megamouth shark]].
*[[Nurse shark]].
*[[Hammerhead shark]].
*[[Bull shark]].
*[[Ganges shark]].
*[[Leopard shark]].
*[[Wobbegong]].
*[[Port Jackson shark]].
*[[Cookie-cutter shark]].
*[[Goblin shark]].
*[[Dogfish]].
and many others. 

== Behavior ==

Many species of sharks give birth to a few dozen live young, others lay a similarly small number of eggs; these are often washed ashore and are known as [[mermaid]]'s purses.

Sharks are reputed to be able to detect minute amounts of blood in water, and to be able to follow blood trails for miles. In fact, although sharks can detect blood at concentrations of as little as a few parts per billion, a very considerable quantity must be spilt before it is detectable amongst billions of gallons of seawater. Sharks actually use sounds and vibrations to locate most of their prey.

==Descent==
Sharks had evolved into forms that are reasonably easily classified as "sharks" over 450 million years ago. 300 to 150 million years ago, sharks had evolved into two reasonably distinct groups. "Modern" sharks appeared relatively recently, about 100 million years ago. One of the most impressive ancient sharks was the massive megalodon.

According to [[Young Earth Creationism]], sharks likely belong to the [[holobaramin]] that includes skates and rays. This holobaramin was allegedly created on the sixth day of Creation, ''ex nihilo''. Post-diluvian dispersal is not necessary, as sharks are not terrestrial.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Fish]]

Baraminology

2007-06-06T03:52:16Z

TerminalGeekiness:

'''Baraminology''' is the psuedoscientific study of '''baramins''', also known by the Biblical term '''[[Kind|kinds]]'''.

A baramin is a lineage of earthly [[life]] which is believed by creationists to be created by [[God]] during the [[Creation Week]], and corresponds in some functional aspects to the secular concept of [[species]]. However, unlike species concepts that are based on Darwinian thinking, the baraminic barrier is inviolable, as other baramins do not [[Theory of evolution|evolve]] from earlier baramins.

[[Jonathan Sarfati]] writes regarding the Biblical kinds of organisms:

<blockquote style="background: #F9F9F9; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: .3em;">
Based on the Biblical criterion for kinds, creationists deduce that as long as two creatures can [[Hybrid|hybridize]] with true fertilization, the two creatures are (i.e. descended from) the same kind. Also, if two creatures can hybridize with the same third creature, they are all members of the same kind. The hybridization criterion is a valid operational definition, which could in principle enable researchers to list all the kinds. The implication is one-way—hybridization is evidence that they are the same kind, but it does not necessarily follow that if hybridization cannot occur then they are not members of the same kind (failure to hybridize could be due to degenerative mutations). After all, there are couples who can’t have children, and we don’t classify them as a different species, let alone a different kind.<ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3855/#kinds</ref>
</blockquote>

Baraminology, as a model of origins, complements the [[Linnaean taxonomy | Linnaean taxonomic system]], which is also based on the Biblical view of origins. Baraminology is seen as an alternative to the evolutionistic system of [[cladistics]], which is not compatible with Linnaean taxonomy.

==History==

The term ''baramin'' was coined in 1941 by [[Frank Marsh]] from the [[Hebrew]] words ''bara'' (create) and ''min'' (kind).

It was resurrected in 1990 by [[Kurt Wise]] for use as the unit of creation in his discontinuous biosystematical system. From this came the term ''baraminology''. That same year at the Second International Conference on [[Creationism]] in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Walter ReMine]] introduced additional sub-terms to help clarify baraminological discourse: ''holobaramin'', ''monobaramin'', ''apobaramin'', and ''polybaramin''.<ref name="frair">[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-crs/baraminology.html "Baraminology -- Classification of Created Organisms"], by Wayne Frair, Ph.D, Originally published in ''CRS Quarterly'', Vol. 37, Num. 2, Sept. 2000.</ref>

==Baraminological Terms==

* '''Holobaramin''': A Holobaramin is a grouping that contains all organisms related by descent, not excluding any. For example, Humans are a holobaramin, meaning all members of our species (Homo sapiens) are descended from a singular creation event (i.e. the creation of Adam and Eve) and will always be fully and completely human. Culturally, many racial ideas and myths still stubbornly linger on, but recent research regarding genetic diversity in humans, has convinced a great majority of scientists that "race" is no longer a useful concept in understanding our species) An example would be [[dog]]s, which form a holobaramin since [[wolf | wolves]], [[coyote | coyotes]], domesticated dogs and other [[canid | canids]] are all descended from two individuals taken aboard the [[Noah's Ark | Ark]], and there are no other creatures that are genetically continuous with them. This term is synonymous with the use of "baramin" above and is the primary term in baraminology.

* '''Monobaramin''': A monobaramin is an ''ad hoc'' group of organisms who share common descent. Any group of specific members of a holobaramin such as wolves, poodles, and terriers or the humans Tom, Dick, and Harry are monobarmins. Holobaramins contain monobaramins; for instance, wolves are a monobaramin of the Dog holobaramin.

* '''Apobaramin''': An apobaramin is a group of holobaramins. Humans and Dogs are an apobaramin since both members are holobaramins. A group containing Negroes and wolves is not an apobaramin since both members are monobaramins.

* '''Polybaramin''': A polybaramin is an ''ad hoc'' group of organisms where at least one of the members must not be a holobaramin and must be unrelated to any or all of the others. For example: Humans, wolves and a [[duck]] are a polybaraminic group. This term is useful for describing such hodgepodge mixtures of creatures.

Three additional terms introduced by Wise:<ref name="frair"/>

* '''Archaebaramin''': An archaebaramin is the originally-created individual(s) of a given holobaramin. For instance, Adam and Eve form the archaebaramin of the holobaramin of Humanity.

* '''Neobaramin & Paleobaramin''': A neobaramin is the living population of a given holobaramin, whereas a paleobaramin represents older forms of a given holobaramin. Neobaramins have undergone genetic degradation from their perfectly created forms (archaebaramin) and so may differ from their paleobaramins in notable ways. For example, the neobaramin of Humanity has a much shorter lifespan and greater prevalence of genetic diseases than the Human paleobaramin (e.g. Adam lived for 930 years<ref>Wieland, Carl, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/805/ "Living for 900 years"], ''Creation'' 20(4):10–13, September 1998.</ref> and his children could interbreed without fear of deformity<ref>[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/tools/cains_wife.asp "Cain's wife -- who was she?"], Answers In Genesis</ref>).

==Baraminic Demarcation==

In order to determine the baraminicity of a given group of organisms, '''baraminic demarcation''' must be evaluated. This process involves four foundational concepts<ref>[http://www.bryancore.org/bsg/opbsg/003.pdf "A Refined Baramin Concept"], Wood ''et al.'', 2003, Baraminology Study Group.</ref>:

* '''Biological Character Space''' (BCS): A theoretical multidimensional space in which each character (e.g. height or color) of an organism comprises a dimension, and particular states of that character occupy unique positions along the dimension. A single organism is therefore precisely defined by a single point in the multidimensional space.

* '''Potentiality Region''': A region of that biological character space within which organismal form is possible. Therefore, any point in the biological character space that is not within a potentiality region describes an organism that cannot exist.

* '''Continuity''': describes the relationship between two organisms which are either in the same potentiality region, or linked to each other by a third, such that transmutation between the two is theoretically possible.

* '''Discontinuity''': describes the relationship between two organisms which are in disconnected potentiality regions, such that transmutation between the two is impossible.

Thus, organisms that are found to be continuous in a BCS potentiality region form a holobaramin or monobaramin (depending on if all organisms within the potentiality region are considered), whereas those that are discontinuous form a polybaramin or apobaramin (again, depending on completeness of the organisms considered).

== Criticism ==

Baraminology has been criticised for its lack of rigorous testing, its lax use of data and its failure to produce any peer reviewed scientific research. It is regarded as pseudoscience by evolutionary scientists, but creation scientists view it as a young field still in development and believe that criticism can be resolved with further research<ref>[http://www.creationresearch.org/crsq/articles/43/43_3/baraminology.htm The Current Status of Baraminology, Todd Charles Wood, CRSQ Vol 43 No 3, December 2006]</ref>.

==Further Information==
* [http://www.christiananswers.net/q-crs/baraminology.html What are the Genesis “kinds”? Baraminology—classification of created organisms]
* [http://www.bryancore.org/bsg/ Baraminology Study Group]
* [http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/baraminology_ta.htm A Review of Friar, W. (2000): Baraminology - Classification of Created Organisms]
* [http://www.creationresearch.org/crsq/articles/43/43_3/baraminology.htm The Current Status of Baraminology, Todd Charles Wood, CRSQ Vol 43 No 3, December 2006]
* [http://www.creationresearch.org/crsq/abstracts/sum34_4.html A Quantitative Approach to Baraminology With Examples from the Catarrhine Primates]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Biology]] 
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Creationism]]

Marsupial

2007-06-06T03:52:13Z

TerminalGeekiness:

[[Image:Kangaroo-bree.png|right|Eastern Gray Kangaroo (''Macropus giganteus'')]]

Marsupials are mammals having a pouch (known as the marsupium, from which the name 'Marsupial' derives) in females. The pouch is used to rear its young.

According to creation science theories, after the Flood, marsupials bred from the Ark passengers migrated to Australia during the [[Post-Diluvian Diasporas|post-diluvian diaspora]]. There is debate whether this migration happened over land<ref name="ca1">[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c006.html "How did animals get from the Ark to isolated places, such as Australia?"], ChristianAnswers.net.</ref> -- as Australia was still for a time connected to Europe by a land bridge similar to the one that connected Asia to America<ref>[http://biblicalstudies.qldwide.net.au/cs-kangaroos_dinosaurs_and_eden.html "Kangaroos, Dinosaurs, and Eden"], Ken Ham.</ref> -- or if they [[rafting (ecology) | rafted]] on mats of vegetation torn up by the receding flood waters.<ref name="ca1"/> However, if these theories are correct it is not clear why no marsupials remained in the Middle East or Europe, and instead all decided to migrate to Australia and South America.

Another theory is that God simply generated marsupials into existence there.{{fact}}

[[Fossil]] evidence, first announced by researcher M.J. Spechtt in 1982, no longer supports the once-common belief that marsupials were a primitive forerunner of the [[placental mammals]]: both main branches of the mammal tree appear to have evolved at around the same time, toward the end of the [[Mesozoic]] era, and have been competitors since that time. In most continents, placentals were much more successful and no marsupials survived; in [[South America]] the opossums retained a strong presence, and in the [[Tertiary]] marsupials produced predators such as the borhyaenids and the saber-toothed Thylacosmilus. In [[Australia]] placental mammals were not present throughout much of the Tertiary and marsupials and monotremes dominated completely. Native Australian placental mammals are more recent immigrants (e.g., the hopping mice).

The early birth of marsupials removes the developing young much sooner than in placental mammals, and marsupials have not needed to develop a complex placenta to protect the young from its mother's immune system. Early birth places the tiny new-born marsupial at greater risk, but significantly reduces the risks associated with pregnancy, as there is no need to carry a large fetus to full-term in bad seasons.

Because a newborn marsupial must climb up to its mother's nipples, the otherwise minimally developed newborn has front limbs that are much better developed than the rest of its body. This requirement is responsible for the more limited range of locomotory adaptations in marsupials than placental mammals; marsupials must retain a grasping forepaw for climbing and cannot develop it into a hoof, wing, or flipper as some groups of placental mammals have done.

There are about 334 species of marsupials, over 200 of them native to Australia and nearby islands to the north. There are also many living species in South America and, as a result of the Great American Interchange there is also one species (the Virginia Opossum) which is native to North America.

Examples of marsupials include [[kangaroo]]s, wallabies, [[wombats]], [[koala]]s, possums, opposums and tasmanian devils.

==Descent==
Marsupials show remarkable evolutionary convergence with other organisms, as they often fill the same niche in their environment. This is particularly evident in the thylacine, which looks very similar to canines, but is relatively unrelated to them.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Marsupials| ]]