The wrath of God is being revealed from

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. -Romans 1 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. ” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. -2 Peter 3

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue AGENDA __Your Presenter __ Subject Background __ Current Conflict/Implications __ Future Projections 3

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue MICHAEL BITTNER - Married with four grown children. - 20 years in the Marines, now an adult educator. -My science hero: Louis Pasteur, “The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. ” - I would love to see science once again brought to the foot of God’s throne. - I am a former subscriber to possible theistic evolution. Completely reject that position now (abiogenesis chemically impossible, mutations + NS = Devolution). - Became a YEC over 15 years ago. I recommend asking for the evidence (NOT artistic renderings). - If you are not a YEC, I am still your brother in Christ. 4

Book Recommendation Uses “Columbo” questioning methods to get others to examine their worldview and to share your faith in a gentle, respectful manner. 5

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue AGENDA __ Your Presenter ✓ __ Subject Background __ Current Conflict/Implications __ Future Projections 6

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue SUBJECT BACKGROUND Terminology Fossil – petrified remains of a prehistoric organism, or a natural mold or cast of such. Soft Tissue 1. Can refer to completely permineralized (stone), non-skeletal skin or organs. This is not the shocking stuff. See upper, right image of mummified hadrosaur. 2. Can refer to actual, unfossilized material from the original animal - what all the “hub-bub” is about. Ma – Mega annum (million years) Ga – Giga annum (billion years) 7

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue SUBJECT BACKGROUND There have been hints for about 50 years. -1961 Petroleum geologist discovered a dinosaur bone bed in Alaska, which remained unstudied for over 20 years (Helder, n. d, Creation. com) -c 1970 Geological Surveyor found a site similar to the more recent “ 45 Ma frozen forest” with wood remains that can still be sawed and burned. (Lemonic, 2001, Time Magazine) -1987 Canadian eskimo discovered a hadrosaur lower jaw. (Helder, n. d, Creation. com) 8

Meta-Analysis of the Literature Dr. Brian Thomas Science Writer Institute for Creation Research (ICR) BS Biology MS Biotechnology Ph. D Paleobiochemistry (Thomas, 2019. Collagen Remnants in Ancient Bone) Real Science Radio - Good Resource Page on His Work Unlike some creationists, he does NOT pre-pounce. 9

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue DR. BRIAN THOMAS (ICR) PUBLISHED LIST OF SOFT TISSUE REPORTS Entries 1 -11, Pre-2005 (Notice the last date) 10

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue SUBJECT BACKGROUND The subject received little scientific attention… …until this woman. Dr. Mary Higby Schweitzer Paleontologist North Carolina State University Christian Evolutionist Protégé of “Dinosaur” Jack Horner 11

Dr. Mary Schweitzer Research (Cont’d) “I looked at this…and thought, this can’t be” “Everyone knows blood cells cannot last 68 million years. ” “They can’t be red blood cells. We all know that. ” –Mary Schweitzer Her research, published in 2005 on a sample from a T-Rex leg bone, verified it was indeed original to the organism. (Fields, 2006. Smithsonian Magazine) 12

Dr. Mary Schweitzer Research SUBJECT BACKGROUND No, it’s not hamburger, but how bad could it taste?

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue AGENDA __ Your Presenter ✓ __ Subject Background ✓ __ Current Conflict / Implications __ Future Projections 14

Dr. Mary Schweitzer Research (Cont’d) How Was it Received by Paleontology? Published in 2005, in AAAS journal, Science. Criticisms followed. Why? -Bacterial Slime (Kay, 2008. Plos One_) -Contamination (Multiple Sources) -Cannot replicate (Service, 2017. AAAS) 15

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue

Replication of Results -Results have since been replicated many times -Finally accepted and deep time preservation mechanism sought. 18

Decomposition Science “The maximum longevity of original proteinaceous matter in vertebrate hard tissues has been estimated at 3. 8 million years. ” (Wiemann, J. et al. 2018. Nature Communications) [According to Thomas, probably inflated because they were not relying only on the decomposition studies] The average DNA half-life within this geographically constrained fossil assemblage was estimated to be 521 years for a 242 bp mt. DNA sequence, corresponding to a per nucleotide fragmentation rate (k) of 5. 50 × 10– 6 per year. (Allentoft, M. E. et al. 2012. Proc. R. Soc. ) [Spreadsheet iterations show virtual nonexistence at, 24 Ka. -MPB] 19

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue DR. BRIAN THOMAS (ICR) PUBLISHED LIST OF SOFT TISSUE REPORTS Also: (Xinhua, 2020. Scientists Find Possible Evidence of Chromosomes, DNA Preserved in Dinosaur Fossils) 20

Decomposition Science Future studies… Racemization Amino acids in living things are all left-handed isomers. When things die, amino acids racemize into equal mixes of left/right hand. Rates for this process are being studied. C 14 Dating C 14 is radioactive and decomposes into C 12. When something dies, it stops inhaling C 14 from the atmosphere and the clock starts for C 14 half life. “…preliminary analyses of fossil bones reveal carbon-13 to carbon-12 ratios very similar to ratios found in modern bones, despite the fact that carbon-13 is very rare. ” (Thomas, 2015. Carbon Dating Fossils) 21

Preservation Mechanisms “Toast Model” [Cell waste products accumulate after death, contributing to cross-linking, like formaldehyde. Concerns: (1) Any decomposition studies on ½ life of such material? (2) Such polymerization results in very dark “toasted” specimen. What about the light-colored soft tissues? ] (Thomas, 2019. Does the Toas Model Explain Fossil Protein Persistence? ) Iron Cross Linking "The free radicals cause proteins and cell membranes to tie in knots, " Schweitzer said. "They basically act like formaldehyde. “ (Schweitzer, 2013. Controversial T-Rex Soft Tissue Find Finally Explained) Liquid Nitrogen 22

AND SPEAKING OF THE CONTROVERSY… Mark Armitage Microscopist BS Education MS Parasitology Formerly Cal State Northridge Staff and students loved the microscope training he provided. . . 23

AND SPEAKING OF THE CONTROVERSY…. . . but then he had to go digging. 24

AND SPEAKING OF THE CONTROVERSY… Published his findings in a peer-reviewed journal… …and got fired! Took it to court and won six figure settlement. He kept everything and was able to show the discrimination. (Armitage, 2013. Soft sheets of fibrillar bone…) 25

IMPLICATIONS The more of this type of evidence that accumulates, the more the following two conclusions are supported: 1. The world is very old, but dinosaurs perished more recently than previously thought. 2. The world is not very old. 26

Why is this a problem? 65 Ma

Why is this a problem? World views are at stake. Christians (take it or leave it) Theistic Evolutionism Progressive Creationism Young-earth Creationism (YEC) Atheism/Secular Needs evolution Evolution needs deep time

Unfossilized Dinosaur Tissue AGENDA __ Your Presenter ✓ __ Subject Background ✓ __ Current Conflict / Implications ✓ __ Future Projections 29

FUTURE PROJECTIONS -More Soft Tissue will be found. (Armitage started an organization dedicated to the field. ) Brian Thomas updated list contains 101 soft tissue finds. -DNA (a small, fragile, short-lived molecule) will be found. -Radiocarbon studies will show ages of Ka vs Ma. -Secular preservation studies will abound. -Anyone in science suggesting that the material is not Ma, will face consequences. -Students from middle school through graduate programs will continue to be indoctrinated. -Creation ministries will ___________? -Others? 30

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