What Google says: A caterpillar and a butterfly have the same DNA because their genetic material, or DNA, does not change during the process of metamorphosis; instead, different genes are activated or deactivated by hormones and other regulatory factors to produce the distinct structures and functions of each life stage. The caterpillar, in a growth-focused phase, has specific genes turned on for eating and growth, while the butterfly stage activates different genes required for flight and reproduction from the same genetic code.
To the question "Does the theory of Evolution require DNA mutation as well as natural selection for any type of change?,"
Google's response: Yes, evolution fundamentally requires both genetic mutation, which creates new variation, and a mechanism like natural selection to act upon that variation. Mutations are the raw material providing genetic diversity within a population, while natural selection, along with other factors like genetic drift and gene flow, filters this variation, leading to changes in inherited traits over generations.
What the Bible says: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
And God Made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
Genesis 1 : 24, 25 KJV
Think About it: Science is adamant that in order for a caterpillar to become a butterfly (or moth, depending on it's species) it must change it's DNA and also, have natural selection on top of that. In addition, there can be additional requirements as well like genetic drift and gene flow to cause evolutionary change by altering gene frequencies in a population. Whew!!!
On a side note, we posted an article a while back called Spot Focus - Destination 6: Journey of Butterflies and Dinosaurs where we highlighted our friends at The Incredible Journey, who released this amazing presentation on Butterflies that details in great length the topics discussed here:
Butterflies – Nature’s Gift
What sounds more plausible: All by chance, the four stages of a butterfly occur with the exact same resulting species, despite its metamorphosis rearranging everything from the ground up and yet never a different butterfly or creature coming out of the chrysalis,
Or that a Master Designer and Creator Knit every DNA detail of these beautiful creatures, inside and out, intentionally?
You decide!
Until next time...