|
Copyright
© 2000 by Creation Research Society. All rights reserved.

BaraminologyClassification
of Created Organisms
Wayne Frair,
Ph.D
CRSQ Vol
37 No 2 pp82-91 September 2000
Invited
Paper
Abstract
For decades creationists
have been using the word kind, type, or group
for their envisioned categories of genetically unrelated organisms including
all those formed by the Creator during Creation Week. Within each of these
categories the various species, subspecies, and varieties were conceived
to have diversified from common ancestral stock. However, until recent
years there has not been a serious comprehensive methodology of classification
focusing on characterizing each original category, which is separated
by genetic gaps from all other categories. Now baraminology (with discontinuity
systematics) has developed into a fruitful approach to classification
within the creation model. Terminology and methodology have been developed,
and the first scientific baraminology conference was held in the summer
of 1999. An aggressive future program is envisaged.
Introduction
Basic human attributes include
classification and identification. People do these so constantly that
the practices are essential to our way of living. Individuals have learned
the classification of thoughts and things, and as they interact with their
environments they persistently identify cognitions as smells, sights (sky,
food, animal, plant, etc.), sounds (honk of horn, bark of dog, music,
etc.), savors (sweet, sour, etc.), and other sensations such as rough
and smooth. The complexity of all this is astounding.
Interestingly, the Bible
includes an account of Gods bringing to Adam all the terrestrial
animals and birds (Genesis 2:19) so that Adam could observe and name them.
This story may have a deeper significance than a cursory reading would
reveal. In the process of naming the creatures Adam learned something
about himself. He realized his capacity to perceive and to discover patterns.
Some critters wore scales and others hair or feathers.
In addition, Adam would
learn something about Godthe Designer. There in the creation was
an expression of the Lords handiwork. After Adam discovered nature
he never would be the same again. The stars, the animals, the plantsall
were part of Gods creation. The stage now was set, and subsequently
billions of science students would play their part upon the stage of life
and during that time sense the excitement of discovering Gods message
in nature (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:19,20; and see ReMine, 1993).
Taxonomy
and Systematics
Pondering these matters
makes it easier for us to realize the basic importance of classification
in biological studies of extinct and extant forms of life. Taxonomy
is the term used for the science of classifying living things according
to their natural groupings. Essentially, scientists of today utilize a
taxonomic system introduced by the Swedish botanist, Linnaeus, about 250
years ago.
However, there are different
approaches used by scientists for studying patterns of life and for classification.
These are called systems of taxonomy and they lie under the general
heading of systematics. For studies of natures patterns ReMine
(1993, p. 444) has compared the diverse procedures to the functions of
different types of film (infrared, ultraviolet, and x-ray film). For example
there is phyletic or evolutionary systematics (or Darwinian systematics)
in which macroevolution (involving large changes) is assumed. See Figure
1.
Systematic schemes which
place less stress upon evolution may be termed phenetic because
they are based upon appearances of features of the organisms and not necessarily
their possible large scale evolutionary relationships. Also there is the
cladistic approach which focuses on common or so-called shared/derived
characters. Most importantly, popular methodology in phyletic, phenetic
and cladistic procedures all have been adapted to macroevolutionary
theorizing.
The earliest methods were
phenetic which conferred the distinct advantage of being objectively observable
and most verifiable. Critics of basic phenetics feel that its simplicity
does not encourage adequate consideration of historical causation. Nevertheless,
those who employ baraminology (with discontinuity systematics) as presented
in this paper, can be agnostic regarding popular phenetic and cladistic
methodology, but at least they do employ some phenetic methodology as
one of their tools.
Discontinuity
Systematics and
Baraminology
Scientists who have preferred
something other than a macroevolutionary framework recently have developed
what they believe to be a more realistic systematics based upon the discontinuities
or typology found in nature. This methodology appropriately has been termed
discontinuity systematics (formally presented by Walter J. ReMine,
1990), or when combined with Biblical revelation, baraminology
(a term introduced by Kurt P. Wise, 1990). Baraminology may be defined
as a taxonomy based upon the created kinds (see Bartz, 1991; Frair, 1991;
1999; and Figure 2). The word baramin was conceived by Frank
L. Marsh and first published in 1941; it is derived from the Hebrew verb
bara, create and min, kind (also see Marsh, 1969; Williams,
1997).
Since classification underlies
all biological investigations, it is quite significant that creationists
now have an active focus on this topic. Substantial progress has been
made since 1990, and baraminologists have developed their own terminology
which at this time appears to be quite practical for those doing systematic
research. The major purpose of baraminology is to determine which organisms
share common ancestry.
Marsh employed the term
baramin in an inclusive way for an entire group of known, unknown,
and possibly inferred organisms sharing genetic relationship. But now
the focus is more specific, and only those specimens which can be studied
as living or extinct (including fossil) specimens may be included in the
current four main baraminic groups. The terms employed as the four primary
baraminic categories are holobaramin, monobaramin, apobaramin, and
polybaramin.
Holobaramins
In baraminology the primary
term is holobaramin from the Greek holos for whole. The
holobaramin is all and only those known living and/or extinct forms of
life understood to share genetic relationship. It is an entire group believed
to be related by common ancestry.
So now each natural group
of related plants or of related animals constitutes a holobaramin; or
in more specific creationist terminology the holobaramin consists of all
known organisms in a group beginning after God created the original organisms
(see Wise, 1992). The holobaramin may be represented as a branching tree,
the nodes and tips of the branches representing all the known members
(subspecies, species, etc.) of the kind(group,
or type). See Figure 2. When individuals or groups of apparently
related specimens are being compared they may be designated as holobaraminic
if they constitute parts of one holobaramin.
During recent past
decades the creationist researchers have employed the terms kind,
group and type generally interchangeably; or as
individuals the researchers have preferred one or another particular general
name for Marshs baramin, and also for what more specifically
and currently may be designated as holobaramins. Now systematists of particular
taxons of plants or animals may discard the older terminology and construct
their trees showing holobaraminic affinities, and thus the boundaries
of common descent.
An important example of
a holobaramin would be humans, Homo sapiens. At the tips of the
holobaraminic branches are the various races (Caucasians, Ethiopians,
Mongolians, Amerindians [Amerinds or Native Americans], etc.). See Figure
3. A member of any of these races potentially would be inter-fertile with
a spouse of the opposite sex from any other race.
It is not uncommon to find
in the anthropological literature reference to upward of eight human geographical
races with even additional intermediate populations. However, it is not
my intention in this paper to enter into discussions of the different
options for what is expressed here in the text or in any of the figures,
but merely to illustrate the taxonomic principles involved.
Another holobaramin could
consist of the sea turtles (see Wise, 1992; Robinson, 1997). A diagram
showing general forms of living and fossil sea turtles may be found in
Lutz and Musick, 1997, p. 8. This diagram is called a cladogram
and is based upon studies by specialists Gaffney and Meylan, but not all
authorities agree with their assessment of available data. See also Hirayama,
1998. Figure 4 is a very generalized representation for all living and
extinct marine turtles. In all of these types of studies the actual goal
of discontinuity systematics is by means of empirical evidence to
determine the boundaries of common descent and thus to converge on the
holobaramins.


The different members of
a holobaramin could have resulted from a sorting out to the offspring
of different genes (DNA) from parental organisms. This is a common occurrence
today. Or, since the time of creation there could have been some hereditary
modifications of the DNA (mutations), and these were passed on to the
diverging offspring. Selection in nature could have influenced the potential
for survival of the diverse siblings.
Monobaramins
The second term used in
baraminology is monobaramin (mono, from the Greek for single
or one). The term monobaramin is defined by ReMine (1993, p. 444) as:
a group containing only
organisms related by common descent, but not necessarily all of them.
(A group comprising one entire holobaramin or a portion thereof).
When a holobaramin is represented
by a tree, one or more branches of that tree would be a monobaramin. For
example, among humans, the caucasians would be a monobaramin (Figure 5).
Or for the sea turtles, the five current types living in oceans around
the world constitute a monobaramin (Figure 6A from Frair, 1982; and see
Iverson, 1992, p. 80). Also, the group of green turtles, Chelonia,
or the branch containing the ridley turtle, Lepidochelys, each
would be a monobaramin (Figure 6B). Individuals or groups may be referred
to as monobaraminic if they represent parts of a holobaramin (Figures
5, 6A, 6B, and 7B).
In addition, systematic
studies on particular monobaramins where there has been diversification
(as the appearance of more recognizable species, subspecies, varieties,
etc.) the research on a monobaramin would not differ essentially depending
on the systematic philosophy of the investigators. The difference between
a (1) phyletic, in the sense of a Darwinian macroevolutionary perspective,
and a (2) baraminic (creationist, limited change, or microevolutionary)
discontinuity systematics viewpoint mainly would be that the former involves
the use of empirical data for extrapolating to some perceived earlier
ancestors. But the baraminologist maintains that thinking about phylogeny
should not extend beyond convincing evidence, and that scientists should
be relieved of their sense of obligation philosophically to construct
extensive phylogenies (evolutionary trees) in the absence of compelling
facts.

Apobaramins
A third baraminic term is
apobaramin (Greek apo, away from), which is a group
consisting of the entirety of at least one holobaramin (Wise, 19992000).
It may contain a single holobaramin or more than one holobaramins. But
it must contain the entirety of each of the one or more holobaramins within
it. No member organism of a holobaramin within an apobaramin shares
ancestry with any organism outside of its own holobaramin ( this being
based upon the definition of holobaramin). See Figure 7A.
The adjective apobaraminic
refers to the association between or among distinctly unrelated groups
(holobaramins). For example all humans as a group would be apobaraminic
because none of its members shares ancestry with any other organisms.
The group of all humans and all turtles also would be apobaraminic because
no human or turtle shares ancestry with any non-human or non-turtle organisms.
It is believed that the
horses (horses, donkeys, and zebras) all are related because they can
hybridize, and therefore they belong to a holobaramin. Additionally there
is a dog holobaramin with monobaraminic branches for the wolves,
another for the hyenas, another for the coyotes, for jackals, and more
for the hundreds of pet-dog breeds. Cats constitute another
holobaramin with monobaraminic branches for the lion and the tiger, for
the pumas, another for the lynx, domestic cats, etc. (see OBrien,
1997). A group of all the horses (equids), all the dogs (canids), and
all the cats (felids) would be apobaraminic because no horse or dog or
cat shares a genetic relationship with any organism which is not a horse,
a dog, or a cat.
The turtle apobaramin may
consist of one, two, three or four holobaramins (see Wise, 1992). In this
present paper I am considering the sea turtles to constitute a holobaramin;
therefore a group containing the sea turtle holobaramin, all equids, all
canids, and all felids would be apobaraminic because none of the members
of any of these four holobaramins shares genetic relationship with any
specimens outside their respective holobaramins.
The term apobaramin
is a term useful especially during evaluations of two types of organisms
(pairwise comparisons). Utilizing pairwise comparisons is the most common
taxonomic procedure.
For example the current
Order Primates includes apes, humans, lemurs, monkeys and tarsiers. All
races of humans belong to one holobaramin; whereas chimpanzees (chimps)
along with gorillas are members of another holobaramin. So a group containing
the human holobaramin and the chimp-gorilla holobaramin would be apobaraminic
(see Figure 7A). Further, a collection of the human holobaramin with any
or all the other primate holobaramins would be apobaraminic. No member
of any of these holobaramins would share any ancestry with a member of
any of the other holobaramins within or even outside this apobaramin.
See Robinson and Cavanaugh, 1998a for a baraminic study of Primates.
Conclusions regarding a
holobaraminic chimp-gorilla relationship (Figures 7A and 7B) are based
upon Hartwig- Scherer, 1998. Also Cavanaugh (19992000) has informed
me that a restudy of data from Robinson and Cavanaugh (1998a) supports
the holobaraminic status of chimps and gorillas. However, as explained
by Klein (1999, pp. 135136) the fossil record provides very little
that is of any use in understanding the history of chimps and gorillas.
When fossils convincingly have been determined to be related to chimps
and gorillas they should be added to their holobaramin. Even possibly
the chimp-gorilla group should be divided into two separate holobaramins.
Figure 7A illustrates how the apobaraminic category can be useful especially
in cases where the included holobaramins possess specimens with considerable
similarity across holobaraminic boundaries. So humans can be compared
with the organisms structurally and functionally most similar to them,
namely chimps and gorillas.

Polybaramins
The fourth term, polybaramin
(poly, from Greek for many), is employed for another mixture
of unrelated organisms. It has been defined as a group (two or more specimens)
consisting of part of at least two holobaramins. It may be any of numerous
hodgepodges which could contain holobaramins, monobaramins, apobaramins,
and individual specimens (see Figure 8).
As an example, a polybaramin
could contain representatives of all human races, the two species of United
States box turtles, one dog, one lion, one tiger, and one sunflower plant.
The humans constitute a holobaramin. The box turtles belong to a monobaramin
in a turtle holobaramin, the dog to a different monobaramin (in the canid
holobaramin), the lion and tiger to another monobaramin (in the felid
holobaramin), and the sunflower to a monobaramin within a plant holobaramin.
The adjective polybaraminic
refers to the association between or among some or all parts of a polybaramin.
For example, the sunflower and the human holobaramin would be polybaraminic,
as would be the sunflower when compared with a box turtle monobaramin
and a dog.
If an investigator is dealing
with a polybaramin his taxonomic goal should be to separate its parts
into the other three categories as soon as possible. Each of the monobaramins
would need to be subtracted from this polybaramin and then separately
studied carefully in order to determine their place in their respective
holobaramins. The dog and the sunflower each is part of its own different
holobaramin, and each of these holobaramins is unrelated to any other
holobaramin in this polybaramin. Also, the humans should be analyzed individually
to ascertain their proper relations within a holobaramin.
Further
Thoughts
To repeat and expand this
somewhat further, the Darwinian macroevolution model is represented by
a single tree of relationships, every form of life being related to every
other form of life (Figure 1). In the baraminic model there is a forest
of trees without connecting roots (Figure 2). One of these rootless trees
would have branches representing only human diversification, another for
canids, another for felids, etc.
For people reared on an
evolutionary diet the above menu can be difficult to swallow and digest
because students of biology have been taught to think genetic relationship
rather than genetic discontinuity. But there is a lack of evidence for
connecting any holobaraminic group to any other holobaraminic group. This
is true for both extinct and extant types of life.
It is common for scientists
to utilize trees to depict relationships, but baraminologist David Cavanaugh
believes that trees possibly may not be the best ways to portray
relationships, but other structures, such as networks or lattices
may do a better job within many holobaramins. Tools of pattern recognition,
such as projection plots, may perhaps be even better methods (Cavanaugh,
19992000). So it remains to be seen just how relationships popularly
will be represented in the future.
Baraminic
Terminology
The four terms, holobaramin,
monobaramin, apobaramin,and polybaramin formally and publicly
were introduced by Walter ReMine (1990) at the Second International Conference
on Creationism in Pittsburgh, PA 30 July 1990. Later in the week of the
same conference Kurt Wise (1990), who had had extensive interchange with
ReMine since 1983, endorsed ReMines discontinuity systematics,
wedded it to his own young-earth creation position, and stated that the
name of this new systematic procedure was baraminology.
Wise also introduced a fifth
term, namely archaebaramin, which could be conceived as the originally-created
individual(s) of each holobaramin. For humans, Adam and Eve would constitute
the archaebaramin. Two other terms which Wise has introduced are
neobaramin which refers to living forms of life and paleobaramin
for the older organisms. Archaebaramins are the most theoretical (Wise,
1990); whereas holo-, mono-, apo-, poly-, paleo- and neobaramins are to
be determined on the basis of observational information.
Baraminology
in Action
It is important to emphasize
that the strictly empirical component of baraminology is discontinuity
systematics which can be utilized by itself without any reference to religious
literature. In fact, most of the sections in this present paper, including
the figures, actually are based on discontinuities as observed in nature.
ReMine (2000) has pointed out that discontinuity systematics
is intentionally designed
to be a neutral, scientific method for studying some of natures
patterns. We do not begin by assuming discontinuity; rather we follow
the data to identify the discontinuities, wherever they may be.
This systematic method is an empirical, scientific enterprisemoved
by the data, not by theoretical presuppositions.
In the actual process of
moving toward the goal of characterizing holobaramins, the taxonomist
needs to identify apobaramins and partition them. Subtractive criteria
need to be used in dividing the apobaramins into separate holobaramins.
Then with the goal of characterizing holobaramins, the taxonomist focuses
on the monobaramins, and additive criteria are employed to build these
monobaramins.
An analogy for explaining
this process has been proposed:
It is like there has been
a huge snowfall covering the trees to the top, and we are digging down
into the snow to identify the connections, the branches, limbs, and trunk.
Is there one tree below? Or is it an orchard of separate distinct
trees? As the data slowly come into view we will have arguments about
what is connected to what, or whether there is discontinuity at a given
place. Some researchers will mis-identify various branches as connected,
when these later are seen as unconnected, and so forth. But this clears
up as we dig. We are not cutting and pruning the data. Rather,
we leave the data precisely where it is. We merely are cutting and pruning
our perceptionsparticularly our temporarily mistaken perceptions
of the data (ReMine, 2000).
In other words the scientist
is iterating tentative taxonomies by increasing or decreasing sizes of
the branches to arrive at the best approximation of reality. This systematic
procedure is driven by observed facts rather than some presupposed framework.
The goal of baraminology
is to characterize holobaramins, but baraminologists do not recognize
holobaramins as absolutely distinct from either apobaramins or monobaramins.
Apobaramins contain one or more holobaramins. So if an apobaramin has
been partitioned and only one holobaramin remains is that holobaramin
still an apobaramin? The baraminologist says yes.
Also, if there is a portion
(branch) of a holobaramin it is termed a monobaramin. This monobaramin
will grow in size and complexity as more specimen branches are added.
When a taxonomist has added all the branches which can be found among
currently-living or extinct organisms, the taxonomist may judge the tree
to be complete according to all currently-existing and applicable information.
This means that the tree, which could have one or more branches,
has all the forms of life believed to share genetic relationship, that
is to say that are related by descent. So this group now by definition
would be the holobaramin. Is it still a monobaramin? The baraminologist
says yes! So how can a group be a monobaramin or an apobaramin and be
a holobaramin at the same time?
Remine (1993, p. 447) and
Wise (19992000) explain that we can think in terms of set theory.
Consider a large circle, A (apobaramin). An inner portion of it is a smaller
circle B (holobaramin), and this includes a still smaller inside region
C (monobaramin). See Figure 9. Both the apobaramin (A) and monobaramin
(C) are being changed in the direction of the middle circle, holobaramin
(B).
Guidelines
In accomplishing the goal
of separating parts of polybaramins, partitioning apobaramins, building
monobaramins and characterizing holobaramins, a taxonomist needs guidelines
for deciding what belongs to a particular monobaraminic branch. These
standards will vary depending upon the groups being considered, but general
guidelines which have been utilized include:
1. Scripture claims (used
in baraminology but not in discontinuity systematics). This has priority
over all other considerations. For example humans are a separate holobaramin
because they separately were created (Genesis 1 and 2). However, even
as explained by Wise in his 1990 oral presentation, there is not much
relevant taxonomic information in the Bible. Also, ReMines discontinuity
systematics, because it is a neutral scientific enterprise, does not include
the Bible as a source of taxonomic information.
2. Hybridization. Historically
Marsh and others have placed this criterion second only to the Bible;
for if viable offspring could be obtained from a cross between two different
forms, this would be definitive of their monobaraminic status. However,
we realize today that the lack of known hybridization between two members
from different populations of organisms does not necessarily by itself
mean that they are unrelated. The hybridization criterion probably will
retain validity, but it is being reconsidered in the light of modern genetics.
3. Ontogeny, namely the
development of an individual from embryo to adult. Hartwig-Scherer (1998)
suggested that comparative ontogeny followed hybridization in importance
as a criterion for membership in a particular type.
4. Lineage. Is there evidence
of a clear-cut lineage between and among either or both fossil and living
forms.
5. Structure (morphology)
and physiology (function). Structures may be macroscopic (large entities
such as body organs), microscopic (small, and observed using magnification),
and molecular (chemical) configurations.
6. Fossils in rock layers.
These studies can include locations of fossil forms in the rock layers,
and may entail considerations of Flood sediments.
7. Ecology. It is important
to comprehend an organisms niche, that is to say the region where
it lives and how it interacts with the environment including other living
things.
In order to determine baraminic
distances among types of organisms it is important to utilize the most
significant data. For instance, molecular studies with mitochondrial DNA
and RNA were useful with some turtles, but the author questioned the baraminic
utility of ecologic criterions (Robinson, 1997). In a baraminic study
of human with non-human primates, the morphological (form) features such
as teeth and bones as well as ecological characters including feeding
and habitats were more valuable than chromosomal or molecular (hemoglobin
and RNA) information (Robinson and Cavanaugh, 1998a). Also see Garcia-Pozuelo-Ramos,
1997; 1998; 1999. However, baraminic research on a broad spectrum of felids
has revealed that ecological data were least reliable, and chromosomal
data of low reliability, The morphological and molecular (protein and
RNA) information were most important (Robinson and Cavanaugh, 1998b).
For ongoing studies Cavanaugh (19992000) recently has emphasized
that:
In particular, proteins,
and their DNA patterns, which are part of fundamental cellular processes,
have wide applicability in baraminological research. For example, proteins
associated with cellular respiration like cytochrome C and cytochrome
B are excellent candidates. See for example, the cytochrome C table in
Denton (1986).
Statistics involving computer
calculations are vital in the above investigations. It is to be expected
that when baraminology is accepted widely the science of taxonomy will
be revolutionized. When systematists are dealing with a forest
of trees rather than one large evolutionary tree it is possible that the
categories of kingdom, phylum, division, class and even orders will be
less useful in classification. However, among living things, groups of
features within other groups of characteristics can be observed. These
so called nested patterns (see ReMine, 1993; Wise, 1998) can
extend beyond baraminic categories; so phenetic and cladistic methods
may continue to be useful along with discontinuity systematics.
For those who have been
steeped in Linnaean taxonomy and evolutionary thinking, discontinuity
systematics may appear to be a preposterous proposal. However, this admittedly
bold scheme should not be thought of as a departure from reality. Interestingly,
on the first of August during the 1999 International Botanical Congress
in St. Louis an overflow crowd heard a presentation promoting a so-called
PhyloCode, a systematic scheme which would lead to the abolition of kingdoms,
phylums, classes, orders, etc. (Milius, 1999). Also see papers by de Queiroz
(1992; 1997a; 1997b). The proposed uncomplicated systematic procedure
focuses on clades, each clade consisting of a single species and descendants
of that species. In other words, the clade would be a holophyletic (genetically-
united) group.
However, those utilizing
a scheme such as this generally are thinking of clades within clades within
larger clades on a macroevolutionary scale; whereas baraminology is more
microevolutionary (small changes) which is much less speculative. For
other taxonomic literature supporting typology see Scherer, 1993.
How many holobaramins will
there be3,000, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, or more? At this time the
best very tentative answer is, probably in the low thousands.
Active
Baraminologists
On 6 March 1996 graduate
student Neal A. Doran sent an email message to Kurt Wise suggesting a
baraminology study group. The following day he emailed two
other graduate students, Todd Wood and D. Ashley Robinson about this.
The responses all were positive, and by 26 March 1996 the group had added
Paul Nelson and John Meyer making a total of six. These men worked at
identifying pertinent literature and establishing guidelines for the future.
In June 1997, Doran, Wise, Wood, and Robinson plus more recent contacts
David Cavanaugh and David Fouts met in Dayton, TN where Wise worked, and
together they established the Baraminology Study Group (BSG).
In addition to the above-mentioned
eight men, there were Pete Williams, Jerry Kreps, and Jeff Tompkins who
became involved to varying degrees. In October 1998 Joe Dasso and I accepted
invitations to join the group, thus increasing membership to 13.
A three-day conference with
the auspicious title Baraminology 99: Creation Biology for
the 21st
Century was organized and presented by the BSG in cooperation with
the Departments of Biology and Chemistry at Liberty University in Lynchburg,
VA, 57 August 1999. There were 24 invited participants.
Formal presentations were
made by Todd C. Wood, D. Ashley Robinson, Kurt P. Wise, Pete J. Williams,
and Paul Nelson. Topics related to baraminology included creation biology,
phylogenetic inference, Biblical studies, design theory, the hybridization
criterion, evolutionary webs, and non-systematics fields. The final afternoon
was devoted to a workshop on baraminology of the family containing camels.
These presentations and discussions on camels included an introduction,
Biblical and linguistic studies, fossil record, hybridization, molecular
studies, phylogenetic distortion, and conclusions. The final evening of
the conference included a moderated discussion of The Future of
the BSG and Baraminology.
Consideration was given
to the establishment of a new society and a new journal. Participants
volunteered for responsibilities centering on a second conference on the
west coast in early 2001.
In spite of some differences
of opinion, it was my impression that the group as a whole was very excited
about progress made so far and prospects for the future of baraminology.
Some of the scientists preferred to believe in an old earth (billions
of years), but the leadership and most of the attendees were united in
maintaining a young earth (thousands of years old) perspective. An introduction
to baraminology and report on the 1999 conference has been written by
an attendee, botanist Margaret Helder, 1999.
Concluding
Comments
Baraminology may be thought
of as a typological approach to classifying forms of life, both living
and fossilized. In former centuries scientists theorized typologically
more commonly than they do at the present time. However, because of the
many difficulties (for example, convergences and reversals) which plague
the macroevolutionary thinker, there is a growing receptivity to typology.
Baraminologists believe
that they are at the forefront of modern progressive thinking. Those interested
in learning more about the ten-year-old field of baraminology should consult
the references.
Acknowledgments
David Cavanaugh, Kurt Wise
and Walter ReMine read earlier drafts of this manuscript and contributed
much invaluable information. Other aid came from John W. Cuozzo, Neal
Doran, Scott A. Mahathey, Todd Wood, and D. Ashley Robinson. Help with
mechanical details has been rendered by Lane P. Lester, CRSQ Managing
Editor. The paper was written in response to patient encouragement from
the CRSQ Editor, Emmett L. Williams.
References
CRSQ: Creation Research
Society Quarterly
Bartz, Paul A. 1991. A refinement
of biosystematics which reflects baraminic variation. CRSQ 28(1):1820.
Cavanaugh, David P. 19992000.
Personal communications.
Cuozzo, Jack. 1998. Buried
alive: the startling truth about Neanderthal Man. Master Books, PO
Box 727, Green Forest, AR 72638.
.
2000. Personal communications.
Denton, Michael. 1986. Evolution:
a theory in crisis. Woodbine House, Rockville, MD.
de Queiroz, Kevin. 1992.
Phylogenetic taxonomy. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics
23:449480.
.
1997a. Misunderstandings about the phylogenetic approach to biological
nomenclature: a reply to Liden and Oxelman. Zoologica Scripta 26(1):6770.
.
1997b. The Linnaean hierarchy and the evolutionization of taxonomy, with
emphasis on the problem of nomenclature. Aliso (The Rancho Santa
Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA 917113157) 15(2):125144.
Frair, Wayne. 1982. Serum
electrophoresis and sea turtle classification. Comparative Biochemistry
and Physiology 72B:14.
.
1991. Original kinds and turtle phylogeny. CRSQ 28(1):21
24.
.
1999. Creationist classificationan update. Creation Matters 4(1):1,5.
Garcia-Pozuelo-Ramos, Celedonio.
1997. Taxonomy of primates. CRSQ 34(2):93102.
.
1998. Dental variability in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris):
implications for the variability of primates. CRSQ 35(2):6675.
.
1999. Craniodental variability in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)
and its implications for the variability in primates. CRSQ 36(3):116123.
Hartwig-Scherer, Sigrid.
1998. Apes or ancestors?: interpretations of the hominid fossil record
within evolutionary and basic type biology. In William A. Dembski, editor.
Mere creation: science, faith and intelligent design, pp. 212235.
Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL.
Helder, Margaret. 1999.
Introducing baramins. Creation Dialogue (5328 Calgary Trail South,
Suite 1136, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 4J8) 26(3):67.
Hirayama, Ren. 1998. Oldest
known sea turtle. Nature 392:705708.
Iverson, John B. 1992. A
revised checklist with distribution maps of the turtles of the world.
Privately printed, Richmond, IN.
Klein, Richard G. 1999.
The human career : human biological and cultural origins. The University
of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
Lutz, Peter L., and John
A. Musick. 1997. The biology of sea turtles. CRC Press, New York.
Marsh, Frank L. 1941. Fundamental
biology. Published by the author, Lincoln, NE.
.
1969. The form and structure of living things. CRSQ 6(1):1325.
Milius, Susan. 1999. Should
we junk Linnaeus? Science News 156(17):268270.
OBrien, Stephen J.
1997 (June). The human-cat connection. National Geographic 191(6):7785.
ReMine, Walter J. 1990.
Discontinuity systematics: a new methodology of biosystematics relevant
to the creation model. In R. E. Walsh, editor, Proceedings of the Second
International Conference on Creationism. Volume II, Technical Symposium,
pp. 207216. Creation Science Fellowship, PO Box 99303, Pittsburgh,
PA 15233-4303.
.
1993. The biotic message: evolution versus message theory. St.
Paul Science, PO Box 28006, Saint Paul, MN 55128.
.
2000. Personal communications.
Robinson, D. Ashley. 1997.
A mitochondrial DNA analysis of the testudine apobaramin. CRSQ
33(4):262272.
Robinson, D. Ashley, and
David P. Cavanaugh. 1998a. A quantitative approach to baraminology with
examples from the catarrhine primates. CRSQ 34(4):196208.
.
1998b. Evidence for a holobaraminic origin of the cats. CRSQ 35(1):214.
Scherer, Siegfried. 1993.
Typen des Lebens. Pascal Verlag, Berlin.
Williams, Pete J. 1997.
What does min mean? Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal
11(3):344352.
Wise, Kurt P. 1990. Baraminology:
a young-earth creation biosystematic method. In R. E. Walsh, editor, Proceedings
of the Second International Conference on Creationism. Volume II, Technical
Symposium, pp. 345360. Creation Science Fellowship, PO Box 99303,
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-4303.
.
1992. Practical baraminology. Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal
6(2):122137.
.
1998. Is life singularly nested or not? In R. E. Walsh, editor, Proceedings
of the Fourth International Conference on Creationism. Technical Symposium
Sessions, pp. 619631. Creation Science Fellowship, PO Box 99303,
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-4303.
.
19992000. Personal communications.
Reprints
Available
Reprints of BaraminologyClassification
of Created Organisms are available as a separate publication, bound
in the cover of this months Quarterly. Individual copies
are $2.00 each.
Order
Reprints

© Copyright 2001-2010, Creation
Research Society. All rights reserved.
|