Hydraulic control for tuna fins found, according to Science (AAAS) News, ScienceDaily, and Stanford News Service 20 July 2017, and Science vol. 357, pp. 310-314 doi: 10.1126/science.aak9607, 21 July 2017.
Bluefin tuna are large, fast and very agile fish. According to Stanford News, “Tuna have numerous morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations to move rapidly through the water column and a sophisticated physiology that includes elevated metabolism, a unique cardiovascular system and a warm body temperature. These features require a well-developed lymphatic system to maintain water balance in tissues and protect organisms from infection. Now, the evolution of tuna physiology can also include this unique hydraulic function.”
Scientists at Stanford University have found tuna have a unique system of moving their median fins, the fins above and below their body, by using channels within their fins that are connected to the lymphatic system. When fluid is pumped into these channels the fins change their shape, stiffness and orientation. These changes enable the fish to use the fins as stabilisers so they can make quick turns without losing speed. Using the lymphatic system for this function is described by one of the researchers as “a novel finding and a unique system”.
The lymphatic system consists of vessels whose main function is to convey white blood cells around the body and pick up excess tissue fluid. It is found in all vertebrates.
Vadim Pavlov, who led the study, commented: “Animals are exciting sources of elegant engineering solutions in aero – and hydrodynamics. What we have discovered in these tunas is unlike other animal hydraulic systems. It’s a musculo-vascular complex that is integrating the lymphatic system, the skeletal muscles and fin bones”.
Barbara Block, a Professor of Marine Sciences at Stanford University commented: “It’s unusual to observe bio-hydraulic locomotion in vertebrate animals, which involves the integration of muscle, fluid and bone structures. To our knowledge, this evolutionary mechanism of fishes has never before been reported and might have remained hidden if it weren’t for the ability to see these fish in action in captivity. It illuminates how non-transparent our ocean realm is and how much is left to discover”.
ScienceDaily, Stanford, Science
Editorial Comment: Wake up guys! In the real world “elegant engineering solutions in aero- and hydrodynamics” only ever come about when intelligent scientists and engineers apply their knowledge of materials and structures to come up with creative designs, and build them with plan and purpose. Furthermore, as the scientists admit, this clever hydraulic system is part of an integrated system of structures and processes needed for tuna to swim and manoeuvre as they do.
As Barbara Block commented, there is much to discover about sea creatures, but the more fascinating things scientists discover, the more they hang themselves if they stick to naturalistic evolutionism and refuse to both recognise the evidence of brilliant design and engineering, and to not give honour to the Creator Christ.
To call this hydraulic control system an “evolutionary mechanism” is part of the modern trend that calls all biological processes evolutionary processes, and it is being used to brainwash students and the general public into believing a lie.
Evidence News vol. 17 No. 15
2 August 2017
Creation Research Australia
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