Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Timely peer reviewed paper - more support for IDvolution
Timely peer reviewed paper - more support for IDvolution
Andy McIntosh’s Peer-Reviewed ID Paper–Note the Editor’s Note!
“Information and Entropy—Top-Down or Bottom-Up Development in Living Systems?” International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics 4(4) (2009): 351-385
Abstract: This paper deals with the fundamental and challenging question of the ultimate origin of genetic information from a thermodynamic perspective. The theory of evolution postulates that random mutations and natural selection can increase genetic information over successive generations. It is often argued from an evolutionary perspective that this does not violate the second law of thermodynamics because it is proposed that the entropy of a non-isolated system could reduce due to energy input from an outside source, especially the sun when considering the earth as a biotic system. By this it is proposed that a particular system can become organised at the expense of an increase in entropy elsewhere. However, whilst this argument works for structures such as snowflakes that are formed by natural forces, it does not work for genetic information because the information system is composed of machinery which requires precise and non-spontaneous raised free energy levels – and crystals like snowflakes have zero free energy as the phase transition occurs. The functional machinery of biological systems such as DNA, RNA and proteins requires that precise, non-spontaneous raised free energies be formed in the molecular bonds which are maintained in a far from equilibrium state. Furthermore, biological structures contain coded instructions which, as is shown in this paper, are not defined by the matter and energy of the molecules carrying this information. Thus, the specified complexity cannot be created by natural forces even in conditions far from equilibrium. The genetic information needed to code for complex structures like proteins actually requires information which organises the natural forces surrounding it and not the other way around – the information is crucially not defined by the material on which it sits. The information system locally requires the free energies of the molecular machinery to be raised in order for the information to be stored. Consequently, the fundamental laws of thermodynamics show that entropy reduction which can occur naturally in non-isolated systems is not a sufficient argument to explain the origin of either biological machinery or genetic information that is inextricably intertwined with it. This paper highlights the distinctive and non-material nature of information and its relationship with matter, energy and natural forces. It is proposed in conclusion that it is the non-material information (transcendent to the matter and energy) that is actually itself constraining the local thermodynamics to be in ordered disequilibrium and with specified raised free energy levels necessary for the molecular and cellular machinery to operate.
Andy McIntosh’s Peer-Reviewed ID Paper–Note the Editor’s Note!
“Information and Entropy—Top-Down or Bottom-Up Development in Living Systems?” International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics 4(4) (2009): 351-385
Abstract: This paper deals with the fundamental and challenging question of the ultimate origin of genetic information from a thermodynamic perspective. The theory of evolution postulates that random mutations and natural selection can increase genetic information over successive generations. It is often argued from an evolutionary perspective that this does not violate the second law of thermodynamics because it is proposed that the entropy of a non-isolated system could reduce due to energy input from an outside source, especially the sun when considering the earth as a biotic system. By this it is proposed that a particular system can become organised at the expense of an increase in entropy elsewhere. However, whilst this argument works for structures such as snowflakes that are formed by natural forces, it does not work for genetic information because the information system is composed of machinery which requires precise and non-spontaneous raised free energy levels – and crystals like snowflakes have zero free energy as the phase transition occurs. The functional machinery of biological systems such as DNA, RNA and proteins requires that precise, non-spontaneous raised free energies be formed in the molecular bonds which are maintained in a far from equilibrium state. Furthermore, biological structures contain coded instructions which, as is shown in this paper, are not defined by the matter and energy of the molecules carrying this information. Thus, the specified complexity cannot be created by natural forces even in conditions far from equilibrium. The genetic information needed to code for complex structures like proteins actually requires information which organises the natural forces surrounding it and not the other way around – the information is crucially not defined by the material on which it sits. The information system locally requires the free energies of the molecular machinery to be raised in order for the information to be stored. Consequently, the fundamental laws of thermodynamics show that entropy reduction which can occur naturally in non-isolated systems is not a sufficient argument to explain the origin of either biological machinery or genetic information that is inextricably intertwined with it. This paper highlights the distinctive and non-material nature of information and its relationship with matter, energy and natural forces. It is proposed in conclusion that it is the non-material information (transcendent to the matter and energy) that is actually itself constraining the local thermodynamics to be in ordered disequilibrium and with specified raised free energy levels necessary for the molecular and cellular machinery to operate.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Sound of a Nested Hierarchy Shattering
The Sound of a Nested Hierarchy Shattering
Chromosomal sex determination in the platypus discovered to be a combination of mammal and bird systems. The resemblance to birds is now more than just superficial.
Chromosomal sex determination in the platypus discovered to be a combination of mammal and bird systems. The resemblance to birds is now more than just superficial.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The Scientific Case for Design
The Scientific Case for Design
The universe is a vast and mysterious place. From the smallest sub-atomic particle, through the intricate nano-technology of the living cell, to Planet Earth, the Solar System and the furthest galaxy, our universe is stunningly beautiful and exceedingly complex. And it poses huge questions.
Where did it come from? Why is it here? What is my part in it? Most generations across history have, largely by intuition, perceived that the natural and living worlds point to an intelligent source and have found meaning in it from that viewpoint.
The rise of modern science from around the 18th century has uncovered deeper secrets of the universe and discovered an amazing array of forces, structures and connections as diverse as those found in quantum physics and the genetic code. In uncovering how natural and living systems function, science has hugely broadened our understanding of the cosmos. However, it has also posed new questions and only deepened the mystery of the universe.
With science has come ideological naturalism which insists that everything about the universe is ultimately explicable in purely physical terms. That philosophy, allied to neo-Darwinism, purports to give a comprehensive worldview which excludes the possibility of deliberate design.
However, the new evidence about design makes that an unsustainable position. The findings of intelligent design theorists significantly change the scientific landscape.
more.....
The universe is a vast and mysterious place. From the smallest sub-atomic particle, through the intricate nano-technology of the living cell, to Planet Earth, the Solar System and the furthest galaxy, our universe is stunningly beautiful and exceedingly complex. And it poses huge questions.
Where did it come from? Why is it here? What is my part in it? Most generations across history have, largely by intuition, perceived that the natural and living worlds point to an intelligent source and have found meaning in it from that viewpoint.
The rise of modern science from around the 18th century has uncovered deeper secrets of the universe and discovered an amazing array of forces, structures and connections as diverse as those found in quantum physics and the genetic code. In uncovering how natural and living systems function, science has hugely broadened our understanding of the cosmos. However, it has also posed new questions and only deepened the mystery of the universe.
With science has come ideological naturalism which insists that everything about the universe is ultimately explicable in purely physical terms. That philosophy, allied to neo-Darwinism, purports to give a comprehensive worldview which excludes the possibility of deliberate design.
However, the new evidence about design makes that an unsustainable position. The findings of intelligent design theorists significantly change the scientific landscape.
more.....
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Functions of Introns: From Junk DNA to Designed DNA
The Functions of Introns: From Junk DNA to Designed DNA
.... In the past, evolutionary geneticists, once uncertain as to what this apparently superfluous DNA does, referred to introns and other noncoding DNA as "junk." Evidence is now being accumulated which indicates that much or most of this DNA may not be junk, but critical for life itself.65 If functions for most or all of the noncoding DNA is found, Darwinism would be without the raw material needed to produce new genes by mutations that can be selected for evolution to occur. Furthermore, much of this new information on the complexity of the genome elegantly provides evidence for both intelligent design and for the concept of irreducible complexity.
65 A. F. Smit, "The Origin of Interspaced Repeats in the Human Genome," Current Opinion in Genetics & Development 6, no. 6 (1996): 743-8.s; G. Berx, F. Nollet, K. Strumane, and F. van Roy, "An Efficient and Reliable Multiplex PCR-SSCP Mutation Analysis Test Applied to the Human E-cadherin Gene," Human Mutation 9, no. 6 (1997): 567-74; M. S. Clark and W. J. Wall, Clii-o?nosotiies (London: Chapman and Hall, 1996); and K. F. Schmidt, "A DNA Structure that Tags Genetic Junk?" Science News 144 (1993): 21.
.... In the past, evolutionary geneticists, once uncertain as to what this apparently superfluous DNA does, referred to introns and other noncoding DNA as "junk." Evidence is now being accumulated which indicates that much or most of this DNA may not be junk, but critical for life itself.65 If functions for most or all of the noncoding DNA is found, Darwinism would be without the raw material needed to produce new genes by mutations that can be selected for evolution to occur. Furthermore, much of this new information on the complexity of the genome elegantly provides evidence for both intelligent design and for the concept of irreducible complexity.
65 A. F. Smit, "The Origin of Interspaced Repeats in the Human Genome," Current Opinion in Genetics & Development 6, no. 6 (1996): 743-8.s; G. Berx, F. Nollet, K. Strumane, and F. van Roy, "An Efficient and Reliable Multiplex PCR-SSCP Mutation Analysis Test Applied to the Human E-cadherin Gene," Human Mutation 9, no. 6 (1997): 567-74; M. S. Clark and W. J. Wall, Clii-o?nosotiies (London: Chapman and Hall, 1996); and K. F. Schmidt, "A DNA Structure that Tags Genetic Junk?" Science News 144 (1993): 21.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)