Fossil Flies with Human-Like Eyes?

Scientists found that the insects trap light similarly to the way humans do, using the pigment melanin.

Scientists discovered a cache of crane fly fossils, dated to be allegedly 54 million years old. These crane flies were exquisitely preserved in volcanic ash in what’s now Denmark—so well-preserved that their complex eyes could be studied. Scientists found that the insects trap light similarly to the way humans do, using the pigment melanin (octopus and squid are also said to have complex eyes like ours). This pigment layer in the eye (the same pigment that gives our skin its particular shade of brown) stops light from “bouncing around and interfering with vision.”

The popular summary of this find explains that insects, like humans, have an anti-reflective layer, but it was assumed to be made of something different because insects and humans are so distantly related on the supposed evolutionary tree of life and because insects’ eyes are so different from ours. But these fossilized crane flies had “human-like melanin” and, when they examined living crane flies, they found they had the same layer with melanin. No evolution in 54 million years!

This isn’t an example of convergent evolution. It showcases the Designer who designed everything to do what it does and do it well. When we see examples of similar design, we shouldn’t think of evolution (which can’t explain how the genetic information needed to build eyes, let alone everything else, could have arisen by natural processes)—we should think of our Creator who masterfully used similar designs throughout his creation. Engineers, architects, and designers do this today too.

Get More Answers on Answers News

The item was discussed on Monday on Answers News with cohosts Dr. Georgia Purdom and Dr. Gabriela Haynes, along with frequent guest and medical doctor Dr. Tommy Mitchell. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. We also covered the following topics:

• Are there answers to the questions that caused a Hillsong writer to abandon Christianity?
• How did a container of tardigrades end up on the moon? (And does it matter?)
• Where did black grey squirrels come from?
• And more!

Be sure to join us each Monday at 2 p.m. (ET) on my Facebook page or the Answers in Genesis Facebook page for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.