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The concept of self-organization in biology has long been applied in behavioural studies of animals such as fish, ants and fireflies. Now, cell and developmental biologists are using similar concepts to explore how patterns are generated in cells and tissues. It is always tempting to seek common mechanistic foundations for different biological phenomena. This approach should be used carefully because biological mechanisms are remarkably diverse, but increasing evidence suggests that the principle of self-organization is broadly applicable. Unlike human-made machines, biological machines must be sufficiently dynamic and flexible to respond to their external and internal environments, and they must rely on themselves to generate order. The challenge for researchers is to look beyond our usual engineering principles and to appreciate Read More ›

In case any one accidentally comes to the (?obvious) conclusion that the finding of yet more evidently brilliant design in biology may support ID, everyone must include the customary clear homage to the creator of all life, NDE. Science Daily “Kenneth Breuer and Sharon Swartz are determined to understand the detailed aerodynamics of bat flight – and ultimately the evolutionary path that created it.” “The assumption has always been that bats evolved from some sort of flying squirrel-type animals,” says Swartz an associate professor in ecology and evolutionary biology at Brown University. “Gliding has evolved in mammals seven times…. Now it doesn’t look like bats have any relationship to these gliding things.” “Interestingly both Breuer and Schwartz remark that it Read More ›

We are often told that “there is no ID research published in peer reviewed journals“. I receive Nature E-Alerts in a number of biological research fields. Almost every time I read the abstracts and even the titles, or spend more time delving into the detail, I hear “Intelligent Design” silently screamed from the pages. Am I deluded, or do others hear it too? Here is a recent example. Sharp boundaries of Dpp signalling trigger local cell death required for Drosophila leg morphogenesis Nature Cell Biology – 9, 57 – 63 (2006) http://www.nature.com/ncb/journal/v9/n1/abs/ncb1518.html Morphogens are secreted signalling molecules that govern many developmental processes. In the Drosophila (fruit fly) wing disc, a specific transforming growth factor (Dpp) forms a smooth gradient and Read More ›