Two important ID The Future podcasts have just been released. The first one (which is actually a 1-minute video) is of more than historical interest, despite what you might think from the title and description. Watch this to motivate yourself to get Meyer's new book next week when it first appears. The second podcast is ironic given all the hype in 2005 about a certain court case having to do with intelligent design and public schools (Kitzmiller v. Dover).

What Was Darwin's Doubt?

What was the biggest doubt Charles Darwin had about his own theory of evolution? Stephen Meyer explains the basis for his new book Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design available in bookstores everywhere June 18. For more information on the book and to order your copy visit www.darwinsdoubt.com.

Another Icon of the "Junk DNA" Argument Bites the Dust

On this episode of ID The Future CSC Research Director Casey Luskin examines a recent paper in Genome Biology and Evolution which argues that the famous beta-globin pseudogene is functional. Why is this pseudogene famous? Well, it's been Exhibit A -- literally, offered as evidence in a court case -- for critics of intelligent design who argue that our genome is full of useless, functionless junk, and therefore can't be a product of design. In light of this new evidence for the functionality of the beta-globin pseudogene, it seems that this so-called Exhibit A, collapses.

Historian of biology Michael Barton offers this thought after reviewing bits of Discovery Institute's new curriculum Discovering Intelligent Design: "It’s no wonder that some have dubbed the Discovery Institute the Dishonesty Institute." Because a few commentators to my blog pull out the "dishonesty" card on me now and then, I thought it would be worth our while here to pursue what Barton thought was dishonest about Discovery Institute's critique of certain aspects of evolutionary biology (and promotion of intelligent design as a better alternative). My colleague at Discovery Institute, Casey Luskin, has provided a thorough response to Barton's dishonesty accusations. I agree with Casey's final sentence (ditto regarding the charges against me by some CP Blog readers): "I tell you, the things for which we get called 'dishonest' never cease to amaze me." FULL POST

A few weeks ago Illustra Media released its latest documentary, Flight: The Genius of Birds (trailer). I watched it last night with a friend who has seen hundreds of nature films (BBC, PBS, Discovery Channel, etc.). His response (and mine) to Flight: Breathtaking. Illustra truthfully reports:

Photographed in North America, Peru, England, Greenland and Antarctica, the film combines stunning images and computer animation with cutting-edge research and an original musical score to celebrate birds and their incomparable ability to live in the skies.

FLIGHT is a unique wildlife documentary. An exploration of the animal kingdom from a perspective ignored by television and the scientific establishment. For instead of presenting a worldview based upon the blind, undirected process of Darwinian evolution, FLIGHT offers a compelling look at the design and purpose woven throughout the fabric of life on Earth.

At Randolf Productions, where you can purchase the Blu-ray version of Flight cheaper than Amazon (they also have the DVD version), you can find additional comments: FULL POST

Wikimedia Commons

There are core theoretical components to both pyschiatry and evolutionary biology that are in deep trouble. To be sure, there are legitimate scientific theories in both fields, but the public has been lulled into a dogmatic sleep about many of the key claims of physchiatry and evolutionary biology. For example, the evidential failure of evolution #2 and evolution #3 (two meanings of the term "evolution" explained below) is not as nearly well known as it should be due to the strong evidence for evolution #1 (small-scale changes in populations of organisms), which many scientists point to as if this automatically legitimates the other two meanings of evolution (which it doesn't). Read this excerpt from the new curriculum Discovering Intelligent Design to understand this, and why I often use the term Darwinism (or neo-Darwinism) to refer to the failed parts of evolution (#2 and #3).

Let's examine the latest public controversy about psychiatry. We shall then consider the state of crisis that both Darwinism (evolution #2 and #3) and many aspects of pyschiatry (as described below) find themselves in today. FULL POST

Recently I reported that over the past fifteen years, the term "molecular machine" has been used widely by biologists to refer to highly coordinated systems of moving parts that peform specific functions within a living cell. To better appreciate how it is that molecular machines in living organisms are best explained by intelligent design, watch this animation of DNA replication in bacteria (which is very similar to how it occurs in humans). DNA replication is part of a high tech information processesing system, one that is far more sophisticated than anything humans have constructed.

The new curriculum Discovering Intelligent Design explains how living organisms are full of machine traits that cry out "design." For example, read this excerpt: FULL POST

Sign the petition (academic freedom is at risk at Ball State University)

Dr. Eric Hedin is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Ball State University in Indiana. Beyond his many courses in physical science, he also teaches an elective interdisciplinary seminar on "The Boundaries of Science." The syllabus describes this course as follows:

In this course, we will examine the nature of the physical and the living world with the goal of increasing our appreciation of the scope, wonder, and complexity of physical reality. We will also investigate physical reality and the boundaries of science for any hidden wisdom within this reality which may illuminate the central questions of the purpose of our existence and the meaning of life.

As a college science professor for twenty years, I can affirm the appropriate nature of such a course. In fact, this courses is in line with The Liberal Art of Science: Agenda for Action, The Report of the Project on Liberal Education and the Sciences (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1990). This AAAS study concludes that students can learn science effectively in historical and cultural context.

The long course bibliography at the end of the syllabus reflects a diversity of perspectives on science, both current and historical. Indeed, this bibliography includes books and essays by many distinguished scholars, including Oxford University mathematician John Lennox, Harvard University astronomer Owen Gingerich, Oxford mathematical physicist Sir Roger Penrose, and physicist and Anglican priest John Polkinghorne.

Some of the authors represented in the bibliography are supporters of intelligent design in biology: Biochemist Michael Behe and philosopher of science Stephen Meyer jump out in this regard. Others (like biologist Francis Collins and physicist Karl Giberson) are staunch critics of intelligent design and defenders of Darwinian evolution. In addition, the authors in the bibliography hold a wide diversity of religious views. Some are Christians. Lee Spetner and Gerard Schroeder are Jewish. Roger Penrose is an atheist. Antony Flew was a former-atheist-turned-deist. Paul Davies is perhaps best described as some form of pantheist. FULL POST

This week Discovery Institute launched Discovering Intelligent Design (DID), which is a comprehensive curriculum that presents the scientific evidence for intelligent design to both young people and adults. When I previewed the product recently, I immediately recognized its great worth. Although it will be very useful in educational (and personal use) settings beyond home schools, I predict that it will be the hottest selling science product among home school educators over the next few years. My son (who graduates from high school in two weeks) has experienced public, Christian, and home school education. DID is well suited for the last two of those environments. See the Table of Contents here.

DID is the first full curriculum to present the scientific evidence for intelligent design in both cosmology and biology in a broadly accessible format. The curriculum includes a textbook, a workbook, and a DVD with multimedia video clips that are integrated into the readings. Developed by home school educators Gary and Hallie Kemper, and Discovery Institute research coordinator (scientist-attorney) Casey Luskin, DID uniquely fills a specific niche in science education materials. As a science educator at the college level for over twenty years, I can assure you that the scientific content of this material is of the highest quality, and yet it communicates well to pre-college students. FULL POST

This motor is one of countless "molecular machines" found in living cells. This one is literally an outboard rotary motor.

Over the past fifteen years, the term "molecular machine" has been used widely by biologists to refer to highly coordinated systems of moving parts that peform specific functions within a living cell. Because of the increasingly clear design imiplications of these tiny machines over the past decade, I would not be surprised if Darwinists soon try to ban this term from public education and popular communication about science (as Eugenie Scott attempted, but failed, to do with the term "Darwinism," as explained in my last two posts). Here is the classic molecular "machine" statement by evolutionary biologist Bruce Alberts:

The entire cell can be viewed as a factory that contains an elaborate network of interlocking assembly lines, each of which 
is composed of a set of 
large protein machines. Why do we call the large protein assemblies that underlie cell function protein machines? Precisely because, like 
machines invented by 
humans … these protein 
assemblies contain highly 
coordinated moving parts. [Bruce Alberts, “The Cell as a 
Collection of Protein Machines,” 
Cell, February 1998]

Today at ENV Casey Luskin wrote regarding "molecular machines":

Writing at ENV last month, I explained why proponents of intelligent design are justified in using the term "molecular machines." Jonathan M., meanwhile, recently published a tremendous article here about the ATP synthase molecular machine, noting that scientists have called it a "bona fide rotary dynamo machine" with "ingeniously designed interfaces" making it "one of the most beautiful" enzymes in biology. Or, as another paper he cited pointed out, "Although there are other similar manmade systems like hydroelectric generators, F₀F₁-ATP synthase operates on the nanometer scale and works with extremely high efficiency." Now I've just received a copy of a wonderful 2011 Cambridge University Press book, Molecular Machines in Biology: Workshop of the Cell, that contains additional insightful language about molecular machines. FULL POST

My last posting triggered many comments and ad hominem attacks (attacking persons rather than arguments). I urge my readers to focus on arguments based on evidence, rather than name calling. I will address a few of the assertions and arguments made in the comments in regard to the meaning and contextual use of the terms Darwinism, neo-Darwinism, evolutionary biology, and theory.

Webster dictionary: "neo-Darwinism: a theory of evolution that is a synthesis of Darwin's theory in terms of natural selection and modern population genetics." [I would only add that modern population genetics became part of this "modern synthesis" in the 1930s]

I gave many examples from books and professional journals to show that "Darwinism" and "neo-Darwinism" are often used interchangeably when referring to the most recent versions of evolutionary theory. I explained this situation by noting that the 1930s don't seen so "neo" [new] anymore, and also by observing that Darwin's theory continues to be updated in so many ways today, including by those who oppose certain aspects of traditional neo-Darwinism (but who are still Darwinists in some broad sense). These are sociological facts about the use of terms and sytles of theoretical discourse over the last few decades, which I documented with two bibliographies. SketpicNY, one of my readers who holds a Masters Degree in Toxicology, made this comment below my last post: FULL POST

Eugenie C. Scott: Wikimedia Commons

Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) announced this week that she is retiring after more than twenty-six years of "overcoming obstacles to evolution education" (this is the title of NCSE's regular column in the open access journal Evolution: Education and Outreach). To kick off the celebration of Darwin's 200th birthday (February 11, 2009) in her "overcoming obstacles" column, Scott (oddly) coauthored an essay titled Don't Call It "Darwinism" (published online January 16, 2009). Terms have limits, and this one has got to go, she argued. Her reasons for forcing the retirement of the term "Darwinism" (and neo-Darwinism) are weak, as we shall see. Since this D-word essay appeared, many have not taken her advice. What can we learn from this failed attempt to impose term limits? FULL POST