>> OrionWorks sez: >>The Creationists lost their case. It's my understanding that for the >>moment "Intelligent Design" aka "Creationsism" is not considered a >>viable scientific theory and should not be taught in schools as an >> alternative scientific theory. > > Thomas sez: > > The aforementioned show just infuriated me. What we want is to point > out to the little darlings to rather complex mechanisms behind life. > The structure that turns the flagellum, the electron transfer > mechanism, the optic nerve, DNA in general and it's folding in > particular, come to mind. It was suggested that I put together a > talk and market my services to schools, IMHO that sounds like fun. > I could purchase a copy of that DVD on cellular mechanisms and take > it as a tax deduction.
Ah, teaching the little darlings how g_d bakes her cookies, and getting a tax deduction to boot! What more could one ask for! If you do put together your educational talk for the little "darlings" I hope you will be willing to at least point to an example of how the amazing flagellum could have evolved over eons as suggested by the theory of evolution. Intelligent Designers claim that the mechanical design of the flagellum is just too complex to have gradually evolved in tiny evolutionary steps. IDers claimed there exists no recorded intermediary steps that lead to the amazing flagellum mechanism. The flagellum mechanism is essentially a rotating propeller propelling the bacterium through the medium. Where were the intermediate steps that led up to the flagellum, IDers argued. But that's precisely what a few biologists revealed - an intermediary step. There exists a strain of bacteria that possesses a spike or spear on one end. I believe the spike was used to "spear" it's host to gain entry and/or to inject toxin. When the spike was analyzed it turned out to be an exact replica of the flagellum MINUS ONE ESSENTIAL PROTEIN. Missing that one essential protein resulted in the "flagellum" being incapable of rotating like a propeller. Sans that missing protein it is the flagella design in every other aspect - a good example of a simplified pre-evolutionary-step that could have lead to the propeller flagellum. What's amazing about this pre-step variation is that the spike results in a completely different function that turns out to be advantageous for the bacterium. I suspect that if IDer's had gotten their hands on the spike-like bacterium first before focusing on the flagellum mechanism they would have argued the exact same POV, claiming there exist no pre-steps leading to the bacterium's "spear." The line in the sand is constantly being redrawn to preserve the sanctity of one's ideology. IMO, it's not an advisable approach to follow when teaching the little "darlings" how science evolves. The debate is never ending. Regards Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
