A De Novo Gene: Unlikely and Very Unlikely

_{Cornelius Hunter

December 9, 2009

Intelligent Design}

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If you scramble about 90% of a protein sequence—randomly replacing amino acids with different ones—would the protein still work? That is what evolutionists are implying in order to make sense of their theory. The problem is that evolution’s explanations for de novo genes are unlikely and very unlikely. In the case of the T-urf13 de novo gene, the two choices seem to be (i) a one in ten million shot that protein coding sequences just happened to be lying around waiting for use or (ii) only about 10% of the T-urf13 sequence really matters and you can scramble the rest with no effect. Read more

Comments

faded glory: The distinction between intelligence, law, and chance is over two thousand years old, beginning with Plato's "Laws." If you can think of another kind of cause, you will be the first. So, it's a perfectly reasonable assumption to bring to any dialogue. Science assumes many things less certain than that. ----"As to brains and mind, I very much like the expression that ‘the mind is what the brain does’. Brains are an organ, a object, and mind is a process, the operation of the organ." There is no empirical evidence for, or any logical reason to believe, the assertion that the mind is a "process." Quite the contrary, if the mind is anything, it is a faculty, just as is the brain is an organ. In any case, the point is that the Darwinist cannot discuss the two terms "mind" and "brain" while using the word "natural" in any meaningful way, except of course by claiming that mind "is" the brain or else that it is grounded in the brain, which is another way of saying that it isn't a mind at all. - "This is not an accurate representation of my views. I very much conceive of the universal nature of various patterns in nature. This is because I see the human mind as no more than an integral part of all of nature, rather than something natural imbued with some special powers ‘from the outside’." How, then, do you explain the origin of the design in an ancient hunter's spear? Where did the design come from and how did it happen? You are trying to conflate the cause of wind, rain, and erosion, with the cause of intentional action. That is what happens when you characterize all these kinds of causes as "natural." ---"If any, it is the dualists who struggle with conceiving of this unity. Universe, mind, matter, law and chance are all parts of nature, and as far as anyone can demonstrate there are no two kinds of intelligence, but just various types and degrees of a single phenomenon. As for ’supernatural’, I don’t think it means anything else but an imaginary explanation for the unknown – an empty label." In that case, perhaps you could serve yourself and your colleagues by defining the word, "natural," because no one knows what the Darwinist means when he uses that term. While you may not agree with our definition of "natural," you clearly know what it is.StephenB_{December 14, 2009
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StephenB: "When ID advocates use the term “natural,” in a scientific sense, they are talking about “natural causes,” such as law and chance, as opposed to non-natural causes, such as intelligent agency." - Stephen, I am not convinced of this dichotomy between law & chance on the one hand, and intelligence on the other hand. The nature of intelligence is still obscure, and I don't think it is has been demonstrated at all that intelligence has another component other than law & chance in some form. Moreover, how do you deal with things like spiders building webs, or termites building colonies? Is there no intelligence there or are these things not natural? What about dogs? Are dogs unintelligent or non-natural? This distinction is fraught with problems. My view is that intelligence comes in degrees, and at the lower end of the scale it is almost indistiguishable from what you would call 'natural', whereas at the higher end of the scale it looks rather different from law & chance. Yet, its nature (pun intended) remains unresolved, and assertng that anything more is involved than law & chance is a metaphysical claim that has been debated for millenia without any concrete results whatsoever. StephenB: "Under those circumstances, the term’s meaning is precise enough to use as part of the rational discourse. On the other hand, when anti-ID partisans enter the arena, they look for ways to muddy the debate waters by ignoring ID’s scientific definition of “natural” and use their own formulation, which has never been defined. At best, they play on the dichotomy between “natural” and “supernatural,” even though they have never explained the meaning of one in the context of the other. That is why they don’t know what to do with words such as, “mind” or “brain.” For them, both faculties would have to be “in nature,” whatever that means, so there cannot be any substantial difference between the two." - As I explained, the terms' meaning is not at all clear because the suggested dichotomy may not actually exist. As to brains and mind, I very much like the expression that 'the mind is what the brain does'. Brains are an organ, a object, and mind is a process, the operation of the organ. There is no empirical evidence, but plenty of metaphysical speculation, to demonstrate that anything more is involved. StephenB: "Further, and more importantly, they cannot conceive of the universal nature of the origins of various patterns in nature. If a human “mind” designs something and leaves evidence of complex-specified information, that is, for Darwinists, a natural event. Yet, if a “supernatural” mind, or for that matter, a Divine mind, designs a universe, leaving that same texture of complex-specified information, it is, for them, a supernatural event, which means, we are told, that we cannot compare the similarity between the patterns coming from the two kinds of intelligent agents because one is supernatural and the other is natural. That is the kind of illogical nonsense they give us. Calling it “methodological naturalism,” doesn’t make it any less illogical." - This is not an accurate representation of my views. I very much conceive of the universal nature of various patterns in nature. This is because I see the human mind as no more than an integral part of all of nature, rather than something natural imbued with some special powers 'from the outside'. If any, it is the dualists who struggle with conceiving of this unity. Universe, mind, matter, law and chance are all parts of nature, and as far as anyone can demonstrate there are no two kinds of intelligence, but just various types and degrees of a single phenomenon. As for 'supernatural', I don't think it means anything else but an imaginary explanation for the unknown - an empty label. fGfaded_Glory_{December 14, 2009
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Jerry:
You keep trying this non sequitur approach of yours.
So, then, you believe that ID would be equally furthered by yet another closet analysis of the kind you describe (a study conducted and interpretable within orthodox evolutionary biology, but privately reinterpreted employing ID's conceptual framework), and by an ID researcher making an prediction that follows directly and necessarily from ID's conceptual framework, one that would not follow from orthodox evolutionary theory, testing that prediction by means of a well designed study, and finding that the prediction was confirmed. There is nothing particularly more powerful or dispositive about the second approach relative to the first. Right?Voice Coil_{December 14, 2009
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Jerry, I too enjoyed that article. My only complaint - it was too short. I wasn't in the slightest bit tired of reading it.Upright BiPed_{December 13, 2009
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Jerry, that's a good article by Frank Tipler. Clearly, he get's it. I have had a parallel experience on this site. Just as Tipler's adversaries have to deny the laws of mathematics and physics to make their case, my adversaries have had to deny the laws of causality to make their case. You will probably recognize William Lane Craig's popularized version of the foundational argument. [A] Anything that begins to exist, must have a cause, [B] the universe began to exist, therefore,[C] the universe had a cause. That point is even less controversial that Tipler's and his isn't really controversial at all. Nevertheless, Darwinists come to this site and say either that [A] is not necessarily true, and, when refuted, change course and then declare that it is trivial and circular, which of course, it isn't. Even Hume and Kant, the two skeptics that led the way to our current malaise, and who, in many respects, provided the intellectual justfication for Darwin's general theory of evolution, admitted openly that no rational person would ever declare that something could come into existence without a cause. Yet Darwinists come here regularly to challenge the point. Thus, you are debating science with folks who don't even accept the law of causality, one of the vital metaphysical foundations for science. When you finally pin them down with facts that lead to an intelligent cause, they simply deny that any such cause is necessary. When you finally pin them down with facts that show the statistical impossibility that naturalistic forces can create information, they begin to argue on behalf of common descent, which, as you know, is not even in dispute for most ID advocates. Or, they just go through the same old routine that something can come from nothing, failing to realize that if that was the case, science, rationality, and even reasoned discourse couldn't exist. There is no way to argue against that kind of irrationality except to point it out from time to time.StephenB_{December 13, 2009
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StephenB, others, I posted something the other day on the Gravity thread which should be a separate thread but which I believe got buried by the host of other comments posted, It is by Frank Tipler and truth in science http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/orwellian-nightmare-science-is-whatever-the-party-says-it-is/?print=1 Given the anti science objections to ID on this thread it would be appropriate to what has been discussed here.jerry_{December 13, 2009
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:That’s not enough. You need studies that an ID scientist would do that a non ID scientist wouldn’t do: those driven by predictions that arise from ID. As you say, “occasionally design some different studies.” That is the only activity that can provide dispositive scientific justification for preferring an ID explanation over others.: Got to give you credit for persistence. You keep trying this non sequitur approach of yours. First, there have been some studies already done in this vein. Studies that examine the limits of novel protein formation are such studies. Dembski and Marks work are also such studies. Also every study which maps a genome is an ID study even though nearly all of the ones done are by people who would deny they are doing an ID study. ID has limited resources to do research by design of the academy. If someone said they were doing a study based on testing ID not only would they not get the study approved, but they would be ostracized by the science community. Just leave it that ID studies are being done all the time but are not identified as such. Behe wrote a book called the Edge of Evolution and in it he shows how research already done can be used to support ID. So right now the best ID research is being done in the biology labs around the world in universities and big government labs. I think it kinda neat that all these anti ID people are carrying ID's bags. By the way we have been down these arbitrary illogical objections before several times so it is easy to point out the irrelevancy of your comments. You must get them from a template published on the internet some place which hasn't been updated to make better sense. The current scientific establishment is scared to death of ID. They feign ennui about ID but let it come up and they go ape s__t about it. If it was a nothing area, they would generally ignore it or even provide some funds to disprove it. But because they know of no way to disprove it, they try to oppress it. And they really goes nuts when they see their own research used to support ID. But in truth every research project they do must support ID which I find kind of ironic. So when you make these objections we know what it is about. But keep trying, you may get somewhere some day.jerry_{December 13, 2009
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I have to apologize. I got it exactly backwards at @35. I said, "When ID advocates use the term “natural,” in a scientific sense, they are talking about “natural causes” as opposed to “non-natural” causes, such as law or chance. Under those circumstances, the term’s meaning is precise enough to use as part of the rational discourse." That, of course, is spectacularly wrong. What I should have said it this: When ID advocates use the term "natural," in a scientific sense, they are talking about "natural causes," such as law and chance, as opposed to non-natural causes, such as intelligent agency. Under those circumstances, the term’s meaning is precise enough to use as part of the rational discourse. On the other hand, when anti-ID partisans enter the arena, they look for ways to muddy the debate waters by ignoring ID’s scientific definition of “natural” and use their own formulation, which has never been defined. At best, they play on the dichotomy between “natural” and “supernatural,” even though they have never explained the meaning of one in the context of the other. That is why they don’t know what to do with words such as, “mind” or “brain.” For them, both faculties would have to be “in nature,” whatever that means, so there cannot be any substantial difference between the two. Further, and more importantly, they cannot conceive of the universal nature of the origins of various patterns in nature. If a human “mind” designs something and leaves evidence of complex-specified information, that is, for Darwinists, a natural event. Yet, if a “supernatural” mind, or for that matter, a Divine mind, designs a universe, leaving that same texture of complex-specified information, it is, for them, a supernatural event, which means, we are told, that we cannot compare the similarity between the patterns coming from the two kinds of intelligent agents because one is supernatural and the other is natural. That is the kind of illogical nonsense they give us. Calling it “methodological naturalism,” doesn’t make it any less illogical. That is why I, for one, ask them to use the word “natural,” only with reference to undirected evolution or with respect to that which was not caused by an intelligent agent. Of course, they continually refuse to do that because such a discipline would lend itself to the very kind of clarity they seek to avoid.StephenB_{December 13, 2009
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Jerry:
But there is no study that a non ID scientist would do that an ID scientist wouldn’t do.
That's not enough. You need studies that an ID scientist would do that a non ID scientist wouldn't do: those driven by predictions that arise from ID. As you say, "occasionally design some different studies." That is the only activity that can provide dispositive scientific justification for preferring an ID explanation over others.Voice Coil_{December 13, 2009
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StephenB, I did not see your comment till I wrote mine. Have to go off to a Christmas concert in 5 minutes. Come back here later in the day because I posted something a couple days ago that got buried in the mass of comments that is very interesting and appropriate for its own thread.jerry_{December 13, 2009
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Faded Glory, It is nice to see your stripes haven't changed. There is no contradiction in what I have said unless you and the rest of us here want to use the term unnatural to include events in our world that include the operation of intelligence. Most would not want to do this. It so happens that natural and unnatural may not be exhaustive as the use of our grammar would normally indicate. Are the operations of an intelligence unnatural but we often use the term natural to indicate what happens using the laws of nature only. So there is a gap here between the normal usage of the terms "natural" and "unnatural." Generally most of us use the term "naturalistic" to mean processes flowing under the forces of physics which would include all of chemistry which is probably a subset of physics. Then there is other uses of the term where it would include processes operating under the forces of physics once some initial and boundary conditions have been set up by an intelligence. A good example is building a river bed to divert a river in a different direction but then leaving it alone. Maybe another example would be to build a system with extremely complicated built in constraints and parts and then let it operate according to the laws of physics and chemistry which I have said is a subset of physics. Such a system could be biological matter. It could be something else designed by an intelligence such as a garden or a farm that proceeds according to the built in initial conditions and boundary conditions. Sometimes gardens need intelligent intervention but other times not so. For the later case look at various places people have planted wild flowers to enhance a landscape and then just left them alone or seeded a lake with trout which is not a garden but a similar concept. So are there any processes that are neither natural and not unnatural. I would say to make things easier to communicate that processes that involve the intervention of an intelligence would be such a case. So assume that is how I use the terms. If you want to quibble, be my guest but you have to accommodate the distinctions which I think you already understand. Your feigned non understanding is always suspect as you always quibble with the non relevant. You are too consistent to be honestly seeking understanding. Maybe this should start a discussion on how we should use the terms natural, unnatural and intelligent processes. Certainly we do not want to call intelligent process unnatural but while they are perfectly natural are they what biologist mean when they say that evolution proceeds under naturalistic causes only. I am sure you understand this and I do not think I have made any contradictions. But maybe there should be more precise use of the terms in the future but again as I said I doubt anyone misunderstood what was meant including yourself.jerry_{December 13, 2009
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---faded glory: "Jerry, you introduced the term ‘natural(istic)’ in this thread yourself, in post no. 2, and elaborated on it in post no. 9. Others merely took you up on this. If you say that these concepts of natural, non-natural or supernatural have no place in science I totally agree with you. Why not present some possible ID mechanisms for the origin of novel genes so we can discuss those instead?" When ID advocates use the term “natural,” in a scientific sense, they are talking about “natural causes” as opposed to “non-natural” causes, such as law or chance. Under those circumstances, the term’s meaning is precise enough to use as part of the rational discourse. On the other hand, when anti-ID partisans enter the arena, they look for ways to muddy the debate waters by ignoring ID’s scientific definition of “natural” and use their own formulation, which has never been defined. At best, they play on the dichotomy between “natural” and “supernatural,” even though they have never explained the meaning of one in the context of the other. That is why they don’t know what to do with words such as, “mind” or “brain.” For them, both faculties would have to be “in nature,” whatever that means, so there cannot be any substantial difference between the two. Further, and more importantly, they cannot conceive of the universal nature of the origins of various patterns in nature. If a human “mind” designs something and leaves evidence of complex-specified information, that is, for Darwinists, a natural event. Yet, if a “supernatural” mind, or for that matter, a Divine mind, designs a universe, leaving that same texture of complex-specified information, it is, for them, a supernatural event, which means, we are told, that we cannot compare the similarity between the patterns coming from the two kinds of intelligent agents because one is supernatural and the other is natural. That is the kind of illogical nonsense they give us. Calling it “methodological naturalism,” doesn’t make it any less illogical. That is why I, for one, ask them to use the word “natural,” only with reference to undirected evolution or with respect to that which was not caused by an intelligent agent. Of course, they continually refuse to do that because such a discipline would lend itself to the very kind of clarity they seek to avoid. . . When ID advocates use the term “natural,” in a scientific sense, they are talking about “natural causes” as opposed to “non-natural” causes, such as law or chance. Under those circumstances, the term’s meaning is precise enough to use as part of the rational discourse. On the other hand, when anti-ID partisans enter the arena, they look for ways to muddy the debate waters by ignoring ID’s scientific definition of “natural” and use their own formulation, which has never been defined. At best, they play on the dichotomy between “natural” and “supernatural,” even though they have never explained the meaning of one in the context of the other. That is why they don’t know what to do with words such as, “mind” or “brain.” For them, both faculties would have to be “in nature,” whatever that means, so there cannot be any substantial difference between the two. Further, and more importantly, they cannot conceive of the universal nature of the origins of various patterns in nature. If a human “mind” designs something and leaves evidence of complex-specified information, that is, for Darwinists, a natural event. Yet, if a “supernatural” mind, or for that matter, a Divine mind, designs a universe, leaving that same texture of complex-specified information, it is, for them, a supernatural event, which means, we are told, that we cannot compare the similarity between the patterns coming from the two kinds of intelligent agents because one is supernatural and the other is natural. That is the kind of illogical nonsense they give us. Calling it “methodological naturalism,” doesn’t make it any less illogical. That is why I, for one, ask them to use the word “natural,” only with reference to undirected evolution or with respect to that which was not caused by an intelligent agent. Of course, they continually refuse to do that because such a discipline would lend itself to the very kind of clarity they seek to avoid.StephenB_{December 13, 2009
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"The appropriate question is, “what would an ID scientist do that a non ID scientist would not do.” The answer is 1) occasionally make different conclusions from some of the data and 2) occasionally design some different studies. But there is no study that a non ID scientist would do that an ID scientist wouldn't do. Can I be any clearer. "Absent from your scenario of ID scientists gathering data identically, but analyzing that data in light of a broader set of conceptual categories, is theory guiding observation." Nonsense. Is it a theory that an intelligence could be an explanation of an effect. Such a theory is incorporated all the time in typical science. ID just expands it to all phenomena and rejects its relevance in 99.99999% of the cases. Aren't you embarrassed at how inane your two questions were? I would be. So I have to wonder what was the motive for asking such drivel.jerry_{December 13, 2009
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Jerry:
I have often said tell me what one thing an ID scientist would not do that a an non ID scientist would do.
The appropriate question is, "what would an ID scientist do that a non ID scientist would not do." The answer is: make empirical predictions that arise as necessary entailments of ID theory, then test those predictions by means of observations, such that failure to observe what is predicted places a tenet of ID theory at risk of disconfirmation. Absent from your scenario of ID scientists gathering data identically, but analyzing that data in light of a broader set of conceptual categories, is theory guiding observation.Voice Coil_{December 13, 2009
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jerry: ID is not a theory. It is an approach to science.
Then you are explicitly saying that ID is not science, but metaphysics. Only specific claims can be evaluated scientifically, and only those claims that have clear empirical implications entailed in the claim. Many (if not most) people use the term "ID" to mean intelligent intervention in biology, either the direct creation of kinds, guided evolution, or front-loading, or any of a number of inconsistent or ill-defined claims.
jerry: So when the conclusion points to intelligence as a possible cause of an observable fact, it does not mean some new theory is being employed.
Of course it does. You would be claiming or hypothesizing the interaction of an intelligent agent with observable consequences entailed in that interaction.Zachriel_{December 13, 2009
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Jerry, you introduced the term 'natural(istic)' in this thread yourself, in post no. 2, and elaborated on it in post no. 9. Others merely took you up on this. If you say that these concepts of natural, non-natural or supernatural have no place in science I totally agree with you. Why not present some possible ID mechanisms for the origin of novel genes so we can discuss those instead? fGfaded_Glory_{December 13, 2009
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ID is not a theory. It is an approach to science. It is a more logical and comprehensive approach to science than that practiced by most current scientists. I have often said tell me what one thing an ID scientist would not do that a an non ID scientist would do. The answer is nothing. What an ID scientist would do differently is consider a wider range of possible conclusions as causes of observable physical facts. So when the conclusion points to intelligence as a possible cause of an observable fact, it does not mean some new theory is being employed. It only means an more intense analysis has been employed. It is possible to speculate further on the nature of the intelligence if there is enough data to do so but often there is not. People who support ID often let themselves get put in a box by anti ID people and start considering things that have no place in ID. The fall for the trap that these extraneous discussions have something to do with ID when to do not. They rightly belong in some other category of discussion and are legitimate topics but they are not ID. As I just said in my previous comment, discussions of the unnatural or super natural are not ID but represent some philosophical area and ID is not philosophy but a broader approach to science that is not restricted ideologically as are most modern scientists by an extraneous philosophy called methodological naturalism. It is ironic that it is the anti ID people who are in a philosophical straight jacket while the pro ID supporter are more intellectually free.jerry_{December 13, 2009
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"Science limits itself to empirically observable mechanisms – something that ID by its own admission does not concern itself with at all." Nonsense. Science limits itself to observable events. So does ID. Science also considers the intervention of intelligence in many natural processes which has the effect of intervening in the normal processes that natural laws would produce. It happens all the time. So does ID. What so called modern science does and it is completely arbitrary is to say that certain phenomena can not be the result of intelligent intervention. This is a non sequitur since they consider intelligent intervention all the time in other phenomens. ID being the more logical and comprehensive "scientific" approach says that is pure ideological bulls__t. There is no reason to arbitrarily limit certain phenomena from such an analysis. Modern science is ideologically based while ID is not and willing to accept a wider range of possible conclusions to physical phenomena. Anyone who brings up the topic of unnatural or super natural is this discussion is playing an intellectually bankrupt game that is a non sequitur. It is done solely to shore up an equally bankrupt philosophy. Everyone here understands this so those who bring up the unnatural as a consideration are playing a game.jerry_{December 13, 2009
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Mung, The quick answer is that I don't understand if there is any difference at all between 'unknown' and 'non-naturalistic'. Saying that the novel gene has an unknown origin and saying that it has a non-naturalistic origin seems to me to have exactly the same explanatory value - namely zero. Neither tells us anything about how the gene originated. Exactly because of the unclear definition of 'non-natural' isn't 'unknown' the more honest answer? Your counterexample of gravity misses the point - we indeed can't see gravity but we can most definitely empirically observe it, and formulate theories around it that lead us to further predictions subject to empirical investigation. This doesn't work for ID. And yes, I agree with you that naturalism is just as metaphysical an interpretation as non-naturalism. Both are concepts that should be kept out of science. Science limits itself to empirically observable mechanisms - something that ID by its own admission does not concern itself with at all. fGfaded_Glory_{December 13, 2009
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Mr Mung, I don’t speak for Dr. Hunter, but I would not be at all surprised to see a similar response from him. The most reasonable explanation for your failure to find his argument convincing is simply that you don’t understand it. Note how I am not accusing you of any motives whatsoever. Just a lack of understanding. If you think so, I would appreciate your pointers for where I have missed the key part of Dr Hunter's message. The probabilistic resources necessary to generate s de-novo gene by naturalistic mechanism? Indeed. If Dr Hunter thinks the odds against this gene arising are 1 in 10 million, then planting ten million stalks of corn makes it likely we sill see this gene in one year.Nakashima_{December 11, 2009
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I’ve tried to follow your argument across several of the posts on your blog. I can’t say that I find either part of your position convincing.
I don't speak for Dr. Hunter, but I would not be at all surprised to see a similar response from him. The most reasonable explanation for your failure to find his argument convincing is simply that you don't understand it. Note how I am not accusing you of any motives whatsoever. Just a lack of understanding.
Accepting your one in ten million probability at face value, yes there are more than ten million corn plants alive each year, many more. So there are the probabilistic resources necessary.
The probabilistic resources necessary for what? The probabilistic resources necessary to generate s de-novo gene by naturalistic mechanism?Mung_{December 11, 2009
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"ID is indeed the perfect theory for determining whether the virus was designed or not. But that seems to be as far as it goes. How does that help us to know if a virus was designed? We would need to be able to distinguish between designers.If we can’t tell the difference between the Intelligent Designer and a human designer, we haven’t advanced any, have we?" Oh, but it would advance us very much if we could determine that life itself, or aspects of it, were definitely designed. Buying into notions of a non-natural God is also a source of confusion. I would say that the Intelligent Creator Source is perfectly natural.avocationist_{December 10, 2009
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Dr Hunter, I've tried to follow your argument across several of the posts on your blog. I can't say that I find either part of your position convincing. Accepting your one in ten million probability at face value, yes there are more than ten million corn plants alive each year, many more. So there are the probabilistic resources necessary. The other part is also weak. Yes, you can do massive substitution of amino acids and still have some level of function. Even Axe 2004 has examples. If you were trying to show how easy it would be for this protein to develop, you did a great job.Nakashima_{December 10, 2009
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Mung: We should find the same pattern in the genome as the theory predicts for the evolution of species. Which genes evolved from which within the same genome?
Look here for one such example: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v387/n6634/full/387708a0.html And here is more info on the evolution of genes within closely related species: http://wolfe.gen.tcd.ie/ygob/
jerry: But it appears there exist a large number of proteins that species specific and their origin should be an interesting area of study to clarify just how and where do proteins originate,
Indeed, it is an interesting area of study. There is an enormous wealth of publications out there on this topic.hrun0815_{December 10, 2009
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Collin-
Also, how do we know if a virus has been genetically engineered by terrorists? Must we know how it was designed before we can know that it was designed? Isn’t ID the perfect theory to help biologists in that type of endeavor?
ID is indeed the perfect theory for determining whether the virus was designed or not. But that seems to be as far as it goes. How does that help us to know if a virus was designed? We would need to be able to distinguish between designers.If we can't tell the difference between the Intelligent Designer and a human designer, we haven't advanced any, have we?Walter Kloover_{December 10, 2009
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But it appears there exist a large number of proteins that species specific and their origin should be an interesting area of study to clarify just how and where do proteins originate,
Yes, species-specific genes is an interesting area, but why get sidetracked on that? Evolutionary theory predicts that most or all of the genes in any given genome are historically related to each other through a process of "descent with modification." Who cares about genes across taxa if even this basic claim of evolutionary theory is false? Where's the evidence of the relatedness of all genes in the genome to each other and their ancestors? Is anyone taking the genome of even the simplest organism and submitting it to a taxonomic analysis? We should find the same pattern in the genome as the theory predicts for the evolution of species. Which genes evolved from which within the same genome?Mung_{December 10, 2009
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fg @13
What kind of observations would lead one to decide if novel gene development took place via naturalistic means or not? This is a serious question, I think this is the most crucial point in the debate if ID is science or not.
ok, that is a serious question. So why not treat it as such?
My view: there are actually no possible observations that would decide this, because the ‘non-naturalistic’ (what is that exactly anyway?) is not empirically observable in the first place. Ergo, ID is a metaphysical interpretation of our empirically observable reality.
But is it not also true, that there are no possible observations that would decide this in favor of the alternative either. So where does that leave you?
the ‘non-naturalistic’ (what is that exactly anyway?) is not empirically observable in the first place.
Indeed, what is that? It's rather vacuous to assert that "natural" means "observable" that "non-natural" means "not observable" and then arrive at the conclusion that non-natural means non-observable. How do you know that the non-natural is not observable unless you define it to be such? When is the last time you saw gravity? Is it therefore non-natural? When is the last time you saw one of your own thoughts? Does that mean they are non-natural?
Ergo, ID is a metaphysical interpretation of our empirically observable reality.
Oops! That doesn't follow. One might as well claim: Ergo, naturalism is a metaphysical interpretation of our empirically observable reality. So where does that get you?Mung_{December 10, 2009
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Colin, Your are expecting intelligent responses from the anti ID people who come here. Ocassionaly we get one or two but most have nothing to offer but rhetoric saying how dumb we are.jerry_{December 10, 2009
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ID does not have to be non-naturalistic anyway. When a programmer designs a computer program, is that a non-naturalistic event? If we did not know how he designed it (say he used an unknown kind of computer) could we never say that it was designed? How would we know? Also, how do we know if a virus has been genetically engineered by terrorists? Must we know how it was designed before we can know that it was designed? Isn't ID the perfect theory to help biologists in that type of endeavor?Collin_{December 10, 2009
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I do not pretend to understand this article and invite anyone who can explain it in general or in detail to do so. But it appears there exist a large number of proteins that species specific and their origin should be an interesting area of study to clarify just how and where do proteins originate, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1779552/ Here is the conclusion from the study The advent of genome sequences has reinvigorated an effort to understand the origins of species specificity. This is a daunting challenge, emphasized by the fact that in the 10 proteomes analyzed here we identified 44,236 phylogenetically specific proteins with undefined or obscure features (POFs). In contrast to PDFs, which have established domains or motifs that can be used to formulate working hypotheses about a protein's function, advancing our understanding of POFs must proceed without such clues. Our analysis here provides an expectation that, on average, 60% of a eukaryote's set of POFs will be highly divergent, and that functional studies will ultimately need to be conducted on a species-specific basis. For example, the human genome encodes 27 proteins that currently cannot be found in genome sequences of any model organism, including the chimpanzee sequence (Table 5S in Additional data file 1). Consistent with expectations from this study, these human-specific proteins are all POFs. Eventually, the function of these unique proteins will need to be studied in humans. Our results support a general expectation that to understand the unique biology of a given organism will ultimately involve understanding the functions of an unexpectedly large number of proteins that have: no defined motifs or domains; are likely to have significant regions of disordered structure; and are restricted to a single species or a closely related phylogenetic branch.jerry_{December 10, 2009
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