A research article claimed that the facial muscle in dogs that leads to an expression similar to one that humans produce when sad “has evolved to appeal to humans.” This is a self-refuting evolutionist fairy tale that has no scientific ground and is completely against current findings.
The claim that a muscle develops from nothing is incompatible with the
science of genetics and is against the anatomical findings. Both wolves and
dogs have this muscle responsible for raising the inner eyebrow, but they are
of different sizes. How these muscles act in a coordinated manner and express
emotions is another great wonder entirely.
Gray wolves and domesticated dogs are genetically identical and their
DNA encodes the same information regarding muscles.
Eyebrow muscle (levator anguli oculi medialis), which leads to the
facial expression eliciting a caregiving, compassionate response, is present
both in wolves and dogs. However, it is small in wild wolves because it is used
less, and larger, and therefore easily detectable anatomically, in dogs because
it is used frequently.
Data Conflicting with Evolutionary Interpretation
Although it is interpreted in the research article that the muscle that
raises the eyebrow “has never been present” in wild wolves, it is accepted in
the data section of the same article that a tendon blended with the fibers of
this muscle are present there. This fact is a striking contradiction that
overrides biased evolutionist interpretations. Obviously, the muscle, with its
tendon and fibers, is present in wild wolves, but has remained smaller because
it is only used less.
Besides, this muscle is not unique to domesticated dogs. Tigers (Panthera
tigris) and servals (Leptailurus serval), which
clearly do not need human nurturing in the wild, also have the same muscle.
Muscles Grow Larger When Exercised
A muscle that does not have any corresponding genes in the DNA does not
come to exist on its own; likewise, it does not disappear on its own if there
are genes for it. However, an unused muscle does shrink. Domesticated dogs, of
course, keep doing this behavior, which was responded quite positively when
they were puppies, as a conditioned behavior. Thus, the muscles that raise the
eyebrows become more noticeable. A gray wolf, on the other hand, has no owner
or caregiver to expect compassion from. In this case, it is an expected result
that the unused eyebrow muscle becomes smaller.
The Miracle of Compassion in Living Things
It is incompatible with the facts to argue that an infant’s facial
expression has arisen due to the need. Whether it is the wildest predator, it
is thanks to a hormonal impulse bestowed by God that the mother takes care of
her offspring, and this impulse has existed from the very beginning. Due to the
oxytocin hormone secreted, the parent has a very strong sense of affection and
protectiveness for the infant. It could never be claimed that oxytocin and the
receptors in the target tissues have developed on their own over millions of
years. The feeling of compassion is created by God, for which He created the
oxytocin hormone. Feelings and behaviors in living things based on biochemical
causes prove the existence of Almighty God.
References:
1.
“Evolution of facial muscle anatomy in dogs”, Juliane
Kaminski, Bridget M. Waller, Rui Diogo, Adam Hartstone-Rose, Anne M.
Burrows, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June
2019, 201820653; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820653116
2.
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-48665618
3.
“The head and neck muscles of the serval and tiger”,
Diogo et al, The Anatomical Record, 295:2157–2178 (2012)