EVIDENCE OF DESIGN IN NATURE Lesson 4

“If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” - The Origin of Species Darwin on the Need to Rule Out Design Darwin on the Need to Rule Out Design

A Normal Part of Science! NASA Space Flights Crash Investigation Arson Investigation Investigation of Suspicious Deaths Archaeology The Search For Design

1.Things can’t be designed because that would bring God into science. A stupid argument! In order to disprove design, evolutionists would have had to be watching since the beginning of the earth. 2.Things can’t be designed because we don’t like the way they are put together (e.g. the panda’s “thumb”). This only proves that if there is a designer, we either disagree with Him or don’t understand His purposes. Arguments Against Design

1.Opinion (e.g. beauty in nature implies a designer with a sense of beauty). Not very persuasive to someone who thinks nature is ugly. 2.Extreme Improbability No theoretical barrier says it’s impossible for a groundhog to make it across a busy 1000 lane superhighway - he just doesn’t. Arguments For Design

3.IRREDUCIBLE COMPLEXITY A mousetrap is an example of an irreducibly complex machine. It must have a base, hammer, spring, latch, and trigger. If any one of them is missing or not working properly, it is not a mousetrap but a pile of junk. If any part of an irreducibly complex machine is missing or not working right, the whole thing is a useless waste of materials. Arguments For Design

It is not possible to make an irreducibly complex machine by gradual changes in a different type of machine. You could modify a rat trap to make a mouse trap, but you could not make one out of a can opener. You would quickly have a piece of junk that could neither open cans nor catch mice. It is not possible to make an irreducibly complex machine by gradual changes in a different type of machine. You could modify a rat trap to make a mouse trap, but you could not make one out of a can opener. You would quickly have a piece of junk that could neither open cans nor catch mice. Minimal Function A machine must have at least minimal function to be of any use. Likewise, irreducibly complex mechanisms in living things could not have evolved from mechanisms of a different type. Natural selection would have eliminated the non-functioning intermediates.

A few dozen nucleotides, out of millions or billions on the complete strand DNA - Master Molecule of Life It is subdivided into dozens of chromosomes, each of which may contain thousands of genes. The genes are made up of thousands of the nucleotides A, C, G, and T. By using these in many different combinations, DNA can spell out the instructions to produce any type of living thing. DNA is a double helix made up of millions or billions of the nucleotides Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine.

1.Cell Repair and Maintenance. DNA contains the instructions to put together hundreds of amino acids into each of the thousands of types of proteins the cell needs to work properly. 2.Cell Reproduction. It contains the instructions to link those proteins into a complete cell, as well as to reproduce itself so that offspring can also function properly and reproduce. 3.Survival and Diversity of the Kind.. DNA contains far more genes than are visibly expressed in any individual. Unexpressed genes are available to pass on to future generations. DNA can carry so much extra information that if one breeding pair had the right combination of genes, they could produce an entire kind containing multiple species and breeds. 1.Cell Repair and Maintenance. DNA contains the instructions to put together hundreds of amino acids into each of the thousands of types of proteins the cell needs to work properly. 2.Cell Reproduction. It contains the instructions to link those proteins into a complete cell, as well as to reproduce itself so that offspring can also function properly and reproduce. 3.Survival and Diversity of the Kind.. DNA contains far more genes than are visibly expressed in any individual. Unexpressed genes are available to pass on to future generations. DNA can carry so much extra information that if one breeding pair had the right combination of genes, they could produce an entire kind containing multiple species and breeds. Functions of DNA God planned you when He created Adam and Eve!

The Blood Coagulation Cascade Proteins in normal type promote clot formation; Proteins followed by an asterisk are activated forms; Names in italics and arrows ending in bars indicate proteins acting to prevent, localize, or remove blood clots. (Source: Michael Behe, Darwin’s Black Box) If any part is missing or not working right, you either bleed to death or die of blood clots.

Antibodies can bind to over 10 billion different shapes because of the billions of possible combinations of amino acids in the heavy and light chains. Antibodies

One piece of the gene that will produce the heavy chain is randomly chosen from the 250 segments in cluster 1. This is added to one from segment 2 plus one from 3 and one from 4, giving over 100,000 possible heavy chains. The light chain is formed the same way, but not necessarily from the same segments. This amazingly efficient system enables less than 300 gene segments to produce over 10 billion distinct types of antibodies. Source: Michael Behe, Darwin’s Black Box One piece of the gene that will produce the heavy chain is randomly chosen from the 250 segments in cluster 1. This is added to one from segment 2 plus one from 3 and one from 4, giving over 100,000 possible heavy chains. The light chain is formed the same way, but not necessarily from the same segments. This amazingly efficient system enables less than 300 gene segments to produce over 10 billion distinct types of antibodies. Source: Michael Behe, Darwin’s Black Box Antibodies

Antibodies are produced in large quantities only when needed. This occurs because some of them stay fastened to the outside of their cells and send messages to the manufacturing apparatus only when they capture a matching invader. The new mass produced antibodies then move freely throughout the body to catch the invaders. Irreducible Complexity Of The Antibody System Irreducible Complexity Of The Antibody System It would be wasteful to have billions of unneeded antibodies of all types floating around in the bloodstream. Not only is the system irreducibly complex - there is nothing in invertebrates from which it could have evolved! All 3 components needed for at least minimal function.

Certain bacteria swim by means of rotary flagella. These are driven by reversible electric motors! Certain bacteria swim by means of rotary flagella. These are driven by reversible electric motors! Bacterial Motors

The Bombardier Beetle Could this system evolve one step at a time? All of it is programmed in the beetle’s DNA. Unless all the parts are present, the whole system is useless. Even if all the parts were present, if any one of them did not work right, the beetle’s ancestors might have exploded! An ordinary looking beetle with an extraordinary defense mechanism

Cleaning Symbiosis When certain species of small birds, fish, or shrimp walk or swim up to certain vicious types of predators (crocodiles, sharks, barracudas, etc.), the predator opens its mouth and allows them to enter, pick off debris, and leave safely. Any other species get eaten. If this behavior is the result of mutations, then multiple species of cleaners must have acquired mutations making them want to enter a predator’s mouth at the same time those predators got mutations that made them decide not to eat the cleaners. It sure is lucky for the cleaners that the predators’ mutations happened at the same time!

1.Everything must be explainable by purely natural processes. a)Atheistic evolution: There is no God. b)Theistic evolution: There is a God, but he does not intervene in nature. 2.Since there could be no other natural processes besides evolution, evolution is the only possibility. 1.A supernatural God created the universe. Though most things are explainable by natural processes, some things may not be. 2.God is powerful enough to use any method He chooses, including instantaneous creation. Presuppositions Evolution Genesis

3.Since evolution has never been seen in human history, it must be very slow. The universe and earth have to be billions of years old. 3. Creation does not automatically require any specific age. a)Recent Creation: The earth is probably less than 10,000 years old. b)Gap Theory & Progressive Creation: Because evolutionists must know what they are talking about, the earth has to be billions of years old. Presuppositions Evolution Genesis

If I am at Victoria falls, then I am at one of the highest waterfalls in the world. TRUE. If I am at one of the highest waterfalls in the world, then I am at Victoria falls. FALSE. If evolution is true, then the universe and life would exist. TRUE. If the universe and life exist, then evolution is true. FALSE. ALL TEACHING OF “EVOLUTION ONLY” IN SCHOOLS RESTS ON THE INVALID USE OF A LOGICAL CONVERSE. The Invalid Logic of Evolution