Propane Eaters Spur Creation Questions

Asphalt volcanoes really do exist on the ocean floor. They leak natural gas, oil, and the same type of black glop we use for road pavement. They have been oozing for who knows how long, although scientists discovered them only 15 or so years ago. Unique sea creatures team up to eat their petroleum products. How could any living thing live off natural gas?

We know of special bacteria that eat oil. For example, they cleaned up the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill more quickly than some thought possible.¹ But the mussels, sea worms, crabs, sponges, and other animals that thrive on the slopes of asphalt volcanoes cannot eat oil. Researchers discovered how they live. Turns out, gas-eating bacteria live inside the gill cells of seafloor mussels. The bacteria also live inside sponge tissues.²

Mussels use their gills not only for vital gas exchange, but also to absorb nutrients from seawater. In this case, they also supply little homes in which bacteria live—but the mussels charge rent. The bacteria convert nearby oil-associated gases like butane, ethane, and propane into carbon compounds useful for life. The bacteria extract enough energy and carbon to meet their own needs, plus those of their mussel landlords. This symbiotic partnership inspires a good creation question: How did such completely different life forms ever begin working so closely together in the first place? It may sound too simplistic to say that God created them to work together, but when considering how unlikely these creatures could ever have figured it out on their own, the God explanation floats to the top.

If this setup evolved naturally instead of God making it, then long ago some bacteria must have tried to penetrate a mussel gill cell. The mussel would have defended itself against such an invasion. What would motivate gill cells to allow bacteria to enter? They don’t see big pictures or potential symbiotic relationships. How would they know to make an exception to infection for bacteria that might supply vital nutrients from unlikely compounds like propane? Clearly, God saw the big picture. He has the skill and wisdom to craft this sea floor odd couple into a flourishing partnership.

References:
1. Thomas, B. Oil-eating Bacteria Are Cleaning Up Gulf. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org August 27, 2010, accessed June 22, 2017.
2. Oil as energy source for deep-sea creatures. Max Planck Gesellschaft Research News. Posted on mpg.de June 20, 2017, accessed June 20, 2017.