And in 2023, it continues with Michel Milinkovitch, Full Professor in the Department of Genetics & Evolution at the University of Geneva (Switzerland).
He claims that “an evolutionary leap—from scales to feathers” requires only a temporary change in the expression of a single gene, called sonic hedgehog (SHH).
The goal of the study was to better understand the signalling
pathways involved in the development of chicken embryos. These pathways are incredibly complex and function like computer programs controlling the development of the embryo. One of these pathways—called the sonic hedgehog pathway (Shh)—controls where different types of skin appendages (scales, flight feathers, down feathers, nails, etc.) form. This pathway is also important in other aspects of embryonic development, such as the formation of the neural tube (which later becomes the brain and spinal cord).
The study injected a substance called SAG, which activates the Shh pathway, into an 11-day-old chicken embryo. This disrupted the normally-precisely-controlled expression levels of the Shh pathway. As a result, feathers formed on the chicken embryo’s feet, which normally only have scales.
He claims that “an evolutionary leap—from scales to feathers” requires only a temporary change in the expression of a single gene, called sonic hedgehog (SHH).
The goal of the study was to better understand the signalling
The study injected a substance called SAG, which activates the Shh pathway, into an 11-day-old chicken embryo. This disrupted the normally-precisely-controlled expression levels of the Shh pathway. As a result, feathers formed on the chicken embryo’s feet, which normally only have scales.
It is important to note that chickens already have the genetic instructions on how to form both scales and feathers.
In the chicken embryo of the study, cells in the feet that would normally follow the instructions on how to make scales followed instead the instructions on how to make feathers.
If the chicken embryo did not have the feather-making instructions, disrupting the Shh pathways would not result in the formation of feathers.
The same is true for dinosaurs. Dinosaurs would only be able to form feathers if they already had the genetic instructions on how to do so.
Rather than supporting evolution, the results of this study show the brilliance of the Creator who designed the sophisticated programs that control chicken embryonic development.
Rather than supporting evolution, the results of this study show the brilliance of the Creator who designed the sophisticated programs that control chicken embryonic development.
Nothing new under the skeptical sun?
(What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV)
Some decades ago, the claim was made in anticreationist literature that the supposed evolutionary change from reptile scales to bird feathers was not only possible, but a rather simple matter. The hands-down proof? Embryo experiments had shown that a simple chemical (vitamin A) was enough to ‘transform scales into feathers’ However, as here, the experiment was in chicken embryos, which obviously already have the information for producing chicken feathers! "
CMI
