Creationists have long contended that the vertebrate eye is too complex to be a product of evolution. By comparing the structures and embryological development of the eye in vertebrate species, however, researchers have gained key insights into the organ's origin, as this article in the July issue of Scientific American explains. These findings indicate that our camera-style eye has startlingly deep roots, and hint at how it might have functioned before it evolved all of the elements necessary for vision.

» View a slide show of the many kinds of eyes that evolution has produced

4 Comments

1. 1. Cigarshaped 03:35 PM 6/29/11

   So the first 'eye' was a light sensor. Some will try to persuade us this happened by accident and some of us will see an act of design. You can never eliminate the possibility that design was involved, however far back you go!
   Let's just admit it's a thing of beauty and wonder. You wouldn't be reading this if it hadn't happened.

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2. 2. Robert Byers 01:38 AM 6/30/11

   I am a creationist and note the article introduced the subject.
   I have serious eye problems .
   I see hope in healing the eye by presuming a creator and a common blueprint behind all eyes.
   Simply the true equation is a single one. The different kinds of eyes are just trying to do this single equation. Whatever suits you for eyes will be your type. No evolution but simple adaptation.
   It follows that a greater equation of what sight is can lead to its healing.

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3. 3. co2dog 04:06 PM 6/30/11

   We 'see' with our brains. The sensation of sight starts with the eye; however, the processing of the network of nerves in the retina and the incredible processing in the brain creates the sensation of sight. Animals evolved sight starting with light sensitive cells. Who knows what a being with a compound eye 'sees'. Certainly not a bunch of tiny images but rather an integrated sensation. Even what we perceive as a uniform field of vision is from a far from uniform array of rods and cones.

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4. 4. SD20111 02:31 PM 7/12/11

   The article in the magazine is exceptional in demonstrating that the development of eyes used for vision evolved from organs and structures that had nothing to do with vision. As with other lines of evidence, it proves nothing by itself, but it's yet another sign along life's highway that says "Evolution straight ahead".

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