Does Evolution Go Backward? A Look at Blind Cave Fish

Well, that’s the claim according to a news report on a new species of cave fish belonging to the genus Sinocyclocheilus recently discovered in a dining table-size pool in a Chinese cave. This new fish species has been described as “unicorn-like,” due to a “horn” protruding from their heads. They have no scales or color, possess very tiny eyes, and likely can’t see—not that there’s anything to see in a pitch-black cave anyway! And it’s those eyes (or rather, lack thereof) that are being hailed as a result of “regressive evolution.”

Now, not having a visual system is actually a great feature for these fish living in perpetual darkness, because it saves them from losing energy. Since they can’t see, cave fish generally navigate their environment by highly sensitive cells along their body that detect changes in water pressure, salinity, and temperature, and this new species also possesses two pairs of barbels (whisker-like protrusions) to aid in navigation.

But the loss of eyes in these fish has nothing to do with molecules-to-man evolution. Based on studies of cave tetras (they are in the same “kind” as the colorful tetras in aquariums), which are likewise blind, it appears God actually designed these sightless fish to respond to changes in water salinity. These changes cause the genes for eye development to be “turned off”—and it can happen in just one generation and likewise be “reversed” in just one generation!

It appears God actually designed these sightless fish to respond to changes in water salinity. These changes cause the genes for eye development to be “turned off”—and it can happen in just one generation and likewise be “reversed” in just one generation!

Even if these new cave fish have lost the ability to develop eyes, it’s not evidence for evolution. After all, they’re losing something—which is the exact opposite of evolution! Evolutionists still have to explain how the feature was ever there in the first place . . . and that’s something they can’t do because there’s no known mechanism that can create brand-new functions and features.

The only reason evolutionists look at the loss of a feature and still call it “evolution” is (1) they interpret everything, no matter how unexpected, within the framework of evolution and millions of years; and (2) they equivocate evolution with natural selection and adaptation even though they aren’t the same thing.

Cave fish didn’t evolve. Their kind (or kinds) was created by God to fill the earth, including the most unlikely of environments! God programmed creatures with potential for all sorts of variability within each kind.

Get More Answers on Answers News

I discussed this item last Wednesday on Answers News with cohosts Bryan Osborne and Dr. Georgia Purdom. 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:

• A “gender neutral” God?
• “Anti-white propaganda” appears in Disney cartoon.
• Church faces backlash for believing the Bible.
• And more!

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Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

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