Ken Ham: Poodles and all Species Including Humans are Degenerate Mutants

A few days ago Ken Ham, the CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis, tweeted about poodles, a frequent visual aid in his presentations and I thought it would be worth some time to explore his thoughts on these “degenerate mutants.” I did so in the video linked below but here I provide a brief summary of what is covered in this video.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=G-wMW7PGVwM%3Fsi%3D6_r4zbxZR2u667MN

Ken Ham is known for using poodles as case study when he discusses the concept of “speciation kinds,” and how these relate to what he considers the biblical model of the origin of species. Recently he penned a tweet which I believe reflects his personal thoughts, as opposed to the collaborative blog posts he authors on Answers in Genesis.

In his tweet, Ken Ham refers to domesticated dogs, like poodles and bichon frises, as “degenerate mutants,” which is a recurring theme in his talks. He explains this by discussing the sin and curse he believes have affected all of creation, according to the young Earth creationist worldview. This curse, as per his belief, has turned all beings, including humans and dogs, into what he calls “degenerate mutants” of their original, perfect forms created by God.

Ken Ham uses the term “dogs” to generally refer to all canines, including wolves, foxes, and coyotes, which he believes are all part of the original “dog kind” created by God. He argues that all domesticated dogs are merely variations within this “dog kind,” and that all the diversity we see in domestic dogs today has resulted from mutations that have occurred post-creation.

Despite his controversial views, Ken Ham often uses these discussions to help his audience understand his perspective on science and the Bible. He argues that the biological diversity we observe today is a result of the redistribution or loss of the original perfect genetic information, not new information being added to the gene pool.

To illustrate his point, he refers to a genetic study on dogs that identified a mutation linked to size variation among breeds, suggesting that such mutations are mere corruptions of the originally created perfect dog genome. He uses this to argue against evolutionary theories that propose the addition of new genetic information over time.

In his discussions, Ken Ham also touches on the theological implications of his views. He links the physical state of current creatures back to the theological concept of the fall of man, suggesting that all of creation is groaning under the weight of sin, which has distorted the original perfection intended by God.

Throughout his talks, Ken Ham emphasizes that the variation within and between species, as seen in different breeds and types of dogs, does not support traditional evolutionary theories but instead illustrates a sorting and loss of pre-existing genetic information. He concludes that the diversity we see in canines today, from poodles to wolves, can all be traced back to a few original kinds on Noah’s Ark, which carried the genetic blueprint for all variations we observe today.

One problem with Ken Ham’s view of genetic mutation and decay is found in the history (or lack of history) of canines in the young-earth paradigm and the lack of an explanation (mechanism) for generating the amazing variation and adaptions in canines today.

For example, all known fossils of canines are from after Noah’s Flood, according to Ken Ham. He doesn’t know of any canine fossils from the flood itself. According to his view, only two canines survived on Noah’s Ark and later repopulated the Earth, resulting in the diverse species we see today, many of which have since gone extinct. There are 36 existing canine species, but historically there have been many more.

In the Americas, distinct canine species like the crab-eating dog and the maned wolf evolved, showing a common ancestry unique from canines elsewhere. This diversity is believed to have originated from canines that migrated to South America via the Bering Strait during the Ice Age.

Ken Ham and other young Earth creationists argue that this rapid speciation of canines, and the appearance of different breeds, is possible within the last 4,000 years. They suggest that domesticated dogs, which are genetically similar to wolves, have varied greatly in a short time due to human selective breeding, focusing on specific mutations.

But there is no known plausible mechanisms to explain the genetic diversity seen today as being accounted for by just two ancestral canines on the Ark.

I explore all of these problems in the video linked above.

Blessings,

Joel Duff