Team of Scientists Predicted Fossil Mound Discovery of Early Life on Earth in '04 Using New Scientific Theory for Creation
In his 2004 book, Origins of Life, biochemist Dr. 'Fuz' Rana predicted future scientific research would show life appeared too early and was initially too complex to have evolved from a primordial soup.
To: National Desk
Contact: Kathleen Campbell, Campbell Public Relations, 719-540-6022
NEWS ADVISORY, June 09, 2006, /Christian Wire Service/ -- When scientists from western Australia discovered fossils of microbes in rock formations in the Strelley Pool Cherts that are older than 3.4 billion years, that was not a surprise to one team of scientists.
"These fossils indicate that a complex array of microbes lived quite early in Earth's history," says acclaimed biochemist Fazale 'Fuz' Rana, PhD, a well-known origin-of-life researcher from the science/faith think-tank Reasons To Believe, www.reasons.org.
"This is an exciting discovery with important implications for the origins of life," says Rana. "Moreover, it lends further proof that our scientific model for creation is viable."
In his book Origins of Life, (NavPress 2004), Rana and his co-author astronomer Hugh Ross predicted that complex microbes, like those discovered in the Strelley Pool Chert, existed early in Earth's history. This groundbreaking book presents the first-ever scientifically testable theory of creation for the origin of life.
"It's satisfying to see how well our creation model predicts scientific advance," says Dr. Hugh Ross, founder and president of Reasons To Believe. "The presence of complex microbes this early in Earth's history raises significant questions about the theory of evolution."
Dr. Rana, an expert in origin of life research, maintains that life appeared on Earth too quickly and is initially much too complex to make sense from an evolutionary standpoint.
"Even though the first life forms on Earth were single-celled microbes," states Rana, "they were amazingly diverse and complex from a biochemical standpoint."
"The traditional evolutionary model has life emerging gradually from a 'primordial soup' over a vast period of time -- hundreds of millions of years -- to yield relatively simple life forms," Rana continues.
"Yet, the data from the fossil record consistently fails to match these critical evolutionary expectations. The recent results obtained by the Australian scientists only further compound the problems for the theory of evolution."
Fazale 'Fuz' Rana, Ph.D.-Fazale 'Fuz' Rana did his undergraduate work in chemistry at West Virginia State College. He then completed his post-graduate studies at Ohio University and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry. After completing postdoctoral fellowships at the universities of Virginia and Georgia, he worked for seven years in product development research for Procter & Gamble
Prior to joining the scholar team at Reasons To Believe in 1999, he published more than 15 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and made more than 20 presentations at international scientific meetings. Dr. Rana also coauthored a chapter on antimicrobial peptides for Biological and Synthetic Membranes and he holds one patent.
Since joining Reasons To Believe he has chaired three conferences and has written two books published by NavPress, Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off and Who Was Adam: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man. He has published numerous articles on the apologetic significance of recent discoveries in the life sciences. He appears each week on the live Web broadcast, Creation Update, and is a highly popular and frequent guest on a wide variety of nationally/internationally syndicated talk radio and television programs.
Reasons To Believe (www.reasons.org) is currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary. Founded in 1986 by renowned astrophysicist Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Reasons To Believe is unique in its position of demonstrating that science and the Bible complement one another. The mission of Reasons To Believe is to remove the doubts of skeptics, strengthen the faith of believers, and offer solid answers to questions about God and science.
Reasons To Believe provides resources that will keep you informed about up-to-the minute discoveries in the sciences and how they harmonize with God's revelation in the words of the Bible. It is our conviction that since the same God who 'authored' the universe also inspired the writings of Scripture, a consistent message will come from both revelations. In other words, the facts of nature will agree with, not contradict, the Bible. Recent scientific discoveries support this now more than at any other time in history.
Hugh Ross, Ph.D.-After studying physics at the University of British Columbia and astronomy at the University of Toronto, Hugh Ross continued his research on quasars and galaxies as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology. While at Caltech he began serving as minister of evangelism for Sierra Madre Congregational Church.
Since 1986 he has led Reasons To Believe, an institute founded to research and proclaim new reasons -from the frontiers of science-for trust in God's Word and faith in Jesus Christ. Over the years Dr. Ross has given hundreds of apologetics lectures, seminars, and courses in universities, churches, business firms and other venues across the U.S. and around the world. He is a popular interview guest on a wide variety of nationally/internationally syndicated radio and television programs.
His books include The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, The Genesis Question, A Matter of Days, and as co-author, The Genesis Debate, Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men. He contributed a chapter on Mars in Dr. Rana's book,Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off, and also contributed details for the new scientific model for creation in Who Was Adam: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man.
