But, only once he states explicitly that an animal 'contradicts the evolutionary idea'. What is his point apart from entertaining the reader? Von Däniken's point seems to be that these phenomena cannot have a natural explanation. The more biologists study nature, the more wonderful adaptations they discover. These adaptations are study objects for professional biologists since the origin of biology as a scientific discipline ( 10). Why did only the narwhal develop a tusk? 'Why, of the ninety species of whale, did only the narwhal develop a tusk?' Just one more example of his evolutionary puzzles: Thousands of scientific articles and hundreds of books have been published ( 6). Together all these examples form the study object of evolutionary biology. There are many more examples of wonderful and strange adaptations in this chapter. ( From genes to shape during metamorphosis: a history). Powerful genetic experiments in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster have revealed how genes can instruct the behaviour of individual cells to control patterns of tissue growth'.

'The development of a fly (or butterfly) from a crawling larva (or caterpillar) that forms a pupa before eclosing as a flying adult is a classic example of metamorphosis that captures the imagination and has been immortalized in children's books. However, everybody can enter 'the genetics of metamorphosis' in a search engine. Von Däniken uses the Atlas Moth, Attacus atlas (see picture above) as one of many animals in the first chapter 'Things animals are capable of' to disprove evolution.

(Note: when Von Däniken writes 'metamorphosizing' he means 'metamorphosing'). 'But the genetic process that turns an egg into a caterpillar, then from a caterpillar to a pupa from which a completely new creature emerges is difficult to reconcile or explain in terms of evolutionary theory' (Chapter 1) Was Darwin wrong? What is exactly wrong with evolution? What is his alternative theory (if he has one)? What is his evidence?Įrich von Däniken thinks animals have inexplicable powers (chapter 1: 'Things animals are capable of'), that mainstream science cannot be trusted (chapter 2: 'Science! – science?') that mainstream science suppresses the truth (chapter 3: 'Hushed up and suppressed') and chapter 4: 'Where are the fossils?' is about the biblical flood and has little relevance for evolution. I was curious how good famous Erich von Däniken's knowledge and understanding of evolution is, and what his arguments against evolution are. Evolution is Wrong! Really? Book review of Erich von Däniken (2022) 'Evolution is Wrong' by Gert Korthof

Erich von däniken book