Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

The National Engineering University
Alangilan Campus
Golden Country Homes, Alangilan, Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
Tel No. (+63 43) 425-0139 loc. 2121 / 2221
E-mail Address: ceafa@g.batstate-u.edu.ph | Website Address: http://www.batstate-u.edu.ph

College of Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

SCI 403
MODERN BIOLOGY

Laboratory Activity Number 1

SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN ACTION

Submitted by:
BALBASTRO, ARA VIVIAN C.
CHAVEZ, WENDELL MARK F.
DEL MUNDO, MICHELLE G.
DRIZ, RHENZ ALDRIN D.
NUAY, YBAN JOSH I.
REMO, MAREIVIC R.
SEDA, JOHN IVAN A.

ME-1309

Submitted to:
ENGR. CARL KARLO CARAIG

JULY 8, 2022

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INTRODUCTION
Centuries ago, it was thought that enigmatic sea serpents and mermaids lurked in
the world's enormous waters. Merfolk (mermaids and mermen) are the aquatic counterparts
of half-human, half-animal fables that have captivated the human imagination for centuries.
For thousands of years, people have speculated about the existence of merfolk (mermaids
and mermen). This notion is based on the assumption that aquatic humanoids existed in the
depths of the sea.
People who believe in merfolk may be misinformed or misinterpret their anecdotal
evidence. According to the source, the reported: "half fish-half human" being observed by
sailors at sea may have been a different marine monster, because just a little part of the
creature was visible. Mermaids are mainly connected with sailors. Eyewitness sightings
and stories of mermaid sightings and experiences are societal factors that help individuals
preserve this belief. There is no solid evidence for or against mermaids; Although no one
can prove that they existed, many people who have spent a lot of time at sea claim to have
seen and interacted with these aquatic phenomena. For thousands of years, they have
pricked people's imaginations and will continue to be an astounding belief of the seafaring
community until proven fact or fiction.
In this coursework, the existence of mermaids and mermen is aimed to be analyzed
and tested through scientific methods. The effective use of reasoning through scientific
explanation is considered. Also, researchers will pursue to state scientific and justifiable
ways of how we can determine if a paranormal object and event involving mermaids and
mermen truly exist.

CLAIMS AND EVIDENCES

One of the greatest hopes of mermaids and mermen existence is that 80% of the
ocean and its underwater realm remains undiscovered. Thus, the hopes of mermaid
believers still flourish and they continue to gather facts and evidence concerning these
creatures.
Recently, a Japanese scientific team discovered a mummified mermaid about 300-
year-old that measures 30.48 cm, found on the coast of the Japanese island of Shikoku. It
is believed to be caught between 1736 and 1741 by a fisherman of today’s Kochi prefecture
in Japan. The physique of this creature noticeably resembles a mermaid with its fuzzy head
and crooked face like that of humans and monkeys with its hands positioned to its
screaming face. Also, its lower body resembles a fishtail with mummified scales. Scientists
from the Kurashiki University of Science had decided to do CT scans and DNA tests to
determine its origin. The results are expected to be released later this year 2022.
The mummy was said to be displayed in a temple for worship practices, thinking
that it would give its visitors and worshippers divine power. However, it is also mentioned
that in 2012 a similar kind of mermaid mummy was also found and it turned out on what
it represented as a ‘monkey’s head with attached tail of a fish’ petrified being. An expert
in Western Folklore, Steven C. Levi, stated in one of his papers that this was just created
as an old chestnut made by fishermen to spread fear to the locals. Nevertheless, scientists
still have hopes that this specific object of paranormal interest could be something different
considering that it is said to be the oldest of its kind.

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 A similar specimen displayed in Horniman Museum raised questions as it does not
satisfy the existing interpretation of a monkey stitched to a fish. This Horniman merman
lacked evidence of jaws and teeth similar to what we can find in monkeys; however, the
head of the specimen does not appear to be fishy at all. To examine what animal species
this specimen belongs to, X-rays, DNA examinations, and CT scans were done. The teeth
and tail that undergo DNA examination do not last well thus; no useful DNA was retrieved.
However, according to Oliver Crimmen of the Natural History Museum, its scales matched
the carp family, and the teeth were identified to be similar to that of a wrasse. Thus, it
appeared to be a Japanese fish – fish rather than a Japanese Monkey - fish. Moreover, its
origin was examined by Ross MacFarlane of Wellcome Library who located a Stevens'
Auction House brochure for the 2 September 1919 sale, where a representative of Henry
Wellcome bought the specimen. The specimen was identified as a “Japan, Mermaid,
papier-mache body, with fish-tail 20 in. long x 9 in. high – Property of an Officer”.

Furthermore, Geologist Dr. Torsten Schmidt and former NOAA Biologist Dr. Paul
Robertson claimed they captured footage of a mermaid during a deep-sea exploration in
the Greenland Sea. Animal Planet offered the two scientists an interview. They played the
video during the interview to show it and confirm what was in the video. They claim that
it was an intelligent being like us. They stated that they confronted the Danish authorities
as the sight of them was in Denmark, Greenland. Then the interviewer put up an article
containing the response to the footage the scientist shared. The composition states that the
Greenland government has banned all new drilling and oil exploration. All of this related
to the footage of the acclaimed mermaid-like deep-sea creature.
The Animal Planet program provided proof of mermaids. It asserted the existence
of mermaids and the secrecy of NOAA (National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration)
experts regarding mermaids. Animal Planet's documentary series includes a film of a
purported mermaid that washed up on the Israeli coast in 2009. Following the airing of the
Animal Planet documentary Mermaids: The Body Found, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration responded to multiple inquiries to state that there is no proof
that mermaids exist. Mermaids are mostly associated with the seafaring community. The
social elements that support them in maintaining this belief include eyewitness sightings
and tales of sightings and experiences with mermaids that are circulated among them.

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 Christopher Columbus claimed to have encountered mermaids on his journeys in
the late 1500s, notably off the coast of Hispaniola. He remarked on their male traits and
explicitly stated that they were not appealing as they are described today. Historians now
believe that if he saw anything, it was manatees and/or dugongs. Moreover, an alleged
mermaid sighting was captured by a woman in London Beach Resort in General Santos
City which they also believed miraculously cured her father’s illness. However, a staff
member later confirmed that the alleged mermaid sighting was a dugong. A lifeguard also
confirmed that dugong sightings are prominent in the said resort. There are more passed
on mermaid sightings throughout history including the Blackbeard's logbook, sightings in
Kai Islands, Mayne Island, Kauai, Kiryat Haim Beach, and Zimbabwe Dam.

ANALYSIS

Falsifiability
The evidence presented portrays different viewpoints regarding the existence of
mermaids and mermen. One way to know if claims appeal to truth is through their opposing
points. For instance, the existence of the 300-year-old mummified mermaid is also thought
to be just like any other specimen that was made up to scare the locals. This can be
compared to the ‘Feejee Mermaid’ created by P.T Barnum where the head and torso of a
monkey were sewn to a fishtail. He made stories about it and many people fell for it which
is still considered one of the greatest mermaid hoaxes of all time. Also, Columbus sightings
and alleged mermaid sightings in General Santos City were contradicted as according to
marine scientists, is just a case of mistaken identity for manatees and dugong to appear like
mermaids.

Replicability
Confirming evidence with the help of other possible ways is important in
determining the truthfulness of a claim. In the case of the Horniman mermaid, for instance,
the specimen lacked results from the DNA examination done. Thus, they conducted other
research approaches to further classify the specimen. With the help of Ross MacFarlane of
Wellcome Library, the specimen is known to be a Japanese mermaid with a papier-mache
body. The cultural context is also studied where the specimen appeared to be the only
mermaid specimen of its kind that was part of an old Japanese belief.

Sufficiency
Mermaid sightings as stated by old voyagers and fishermen do not supply enough
scientific evidence concerning observable proof. Also, testimonies from so-called credible
sources can be considered staged like that of Mermaids: The Body Found, an Animal Planet
Documentary that presented scientists explaining what they have experimented which the
National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration claimed was untrue and misleading.
However, evidence tested through time and of great histories such as mummification and
specimen preservation can provide a more detailed explanation and can only be disregarded
through scientific examination.

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DISCUSSION

There are numerous cases of mermaids and mermen sightings that can at least
reveal the truth as the quantity of evidence already speaks for its existence. Nevertheless,
having an observable specimen and interpretable data of mermaid examination are much
more needed than relying on unsupported claims of sightings. This is because observable
specimens and interpretable data can be justified through science as we are hypothesizing
the existence of mermaids. There is much evidence that shows mermaid mummies and
specimens are just made up to create a hoax, where monkeys and fish are sewn together
for instance. Thus, one way to examine the existence is through the identification of what
and where the specimen belongs to. Through this, we can assess if the upper body and the
lower body are created by two different animals or if they are matched of the same unique
kind.
Scientific procedures that could assist the examination include macroscopic and
endoscopic examinations, CT scans, X-rays, computed tomography, 3D analysis, and DNA
examination. In the case of the Horniman mermaid specimen, CT scans and X-rays were
done, however, the DNA examination did not provide any useful information because of
how mummified and preserved the specimen was. This kind of examination is given much
importance due to its credibility in proving one’s biological evidence of existence and
genetic information. Moreover, DNA specialists confirmed that DNA information from
mummified specimens can be gathered through a sequencing process that uses a
polymerase chain reaction to extract and find targeted DNA fragments. Once the DNA is
examined in the mermaid specimens, it can help prove its existence and provide more
interpretable information. Consequently, sufficient approaches are still needed to further
investigate which can help formulate an in-depth plan to study using descriptive research
and hypothetical investigation.

REFERENCES

Animal Planet, (2013). Camera Captures Mermaid on Submersible | Mermaids. Retrieved

from https://youtu.be/bSG3kPa-jOU

Felton, J., (2022). Scientists Investigate 300-Year-Old Mummified "Mermaid" Said to Be

Caught in the 1700s. Retrieved from https://www.iflscience.com/scientists-investigate-
300yearold-mummified-mermaid-said-to-be-caught-in-the-1700s-62892
GMA News, (2015). Mermaid sightings in GenSan: Fact or Hoax? | Kapuso Mo, Jessica
Soho. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/soYi8opwWQk
Radford, B. (2022, February 14). Mermaids & Mermen: Facts & Legends. LiveScience.
Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://www.livescience.com/39882-mermaid.html
Tapalaga, A., (2022). The Mystery Behind a 300-Year-Old Mermaid Mummy. Retrieved
from https://historyofyesterday.com/the-mystery-behind-a-300-year-old-mermaid-
mummy-8189f8c22481

Viscardi, P., (2014). The Horiman Merman. Retrieved from

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/manmade-mermaids/

Wade, L., (2017). Scientists thought ancient Egyptian mummies didn't have any DNA left.
They were wrong. Retrieved from https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-
thought-ancient-egyptian-mummies-didn-t-have-any-dna-left-they-were-wrong

Zurbrugg, C., (2018). The Existence of Mermaids/Merfolk | The Psychology of

Extraordinary Beliefs. Retrieved from https://u.osu.edu/vanzandt/2018/03/08/the-
existence-of-mermaidsmerfolk/

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