Jonathan M

This event might be of interest for some of our UK readers. Yours truly will certainly be there. From here. Topic: Evolution & Global Warming Denial: How the Public is Misled Time: Thursday, September 15 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm Venue: The Walkabout Bar, 128 Renfield St, Glasgow G2 3AL (please note the change). More info: In the US, teachers have long been being pressured to eliminate the teaching of evolution or to teach “alternative views” – meaning creationism. Recently, they also are receiving pressure either to not teach global warming, or to teach “alternative views”, such as that global warming isn’t actually occurring, or that it is not anthropogenic. As with the arguments used by anti-evolutionists, global warming deniers propose Read More ›

Over on the website of the UK Centre for Intelligent Design, Anthony Latham (author of The Naked Emperor: Darwinism Exposed) has an excellent article on a recent review article in Nature on the role of molecular chaperones in protein folding. Latham writes, The journal Nature has just published a detailed and fascinating review about the way proteins in our bodies are helped by other proteins, known as chaperones, to become functional. Proteins are the most complex molecules in our bodies and are involved in virtually all biological processes. Our cells typically manufacture over 10,000 different proteins, synthesised on ribosomes as chains of up to several thousand amino acids. For a protein to function it must fold to its ‘native state’ Read More ›

In ID circles we often discuss the sheer rarity of biologically relevant polypeptides with respect to combinatorial sequence space (and the related conundrum of macromolecular interdependence). It has often been argued that this represents a potent challenge to chemical origin-of-life models of an order substantially greater than the challenge it presents to biological evolution. There is one related problem in this regard which is often overlooked, and I want to briefly explore it in this blog entry. When it comes to polymerization of amino acids to form proteins, two things must be borne in mind with regards to the formation of peptide bonds. Peptide bond formation is an endothermic reaction. This means that the reaction requires the absorption of energy: Read More ›

One of the most amazing examples of cellular nanotechnology is a molecular motor protein known as kinesin. Kinesin is responsible for transporting molecular cargo — including chromosomes (e.g. during cell division), neurotransmitters and other important material — along microtubule tracks from one region of the cell to another. Read More>>

Isn’t it utterly awe-inspiring to look at the sheer vastness of the Universe we inhabit? Atheists have often argued that the immense grandeur of the cosmic arena renders mankind unlikely to have a significant role in the grand scheme of things.

But what if the preponderance of evidence told quite a different story?

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This week’s debate on Unbelievable (the radio show which regularly features exchanges and dialogues between Christians and non-Christians) features a debate between Richard Weikart and Hector Avalos. From the podcast description: Richard Weikart is a Christian and professor of History at California State University. He has drawn controversial conclusions regarding the role of Darwinism in providing a rationale for Hitler’s Nazi ideology. Hector Avalos is an atheist and Professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University. He disagrees with Weikart, saying that Christian anti-semitism is the more likely explanation for Nazi ideology. To listen to this week’s show, go here.

The Centre for Intelligent Design (C4ID) UK recently announced its 2011 conference on intelligent design. This may be just the right opportunity to increase your understanding of the fast moving centre-stage debate about Darwinism and Intelligent Design and at the same time enjoy a fabulous conference centre, all en-suite, in the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.

You’ll be engaging with world-class speakers for up to five sessions over the Friday evening and Saturday as they bring the scientific evidence that is making ID an unstoppable movement, world-wide.

• Dr. Geoff Barnard
• Prof. Chris Shaw
• Dr. Jay Wesley Richards

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The origin of sexually reproducing organisms from asexually reproducing ancestors is a profound mystery which has baffled many an evolutionary biologist. Read More>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QERyh9YYEis

A couple of weeks ago, an interesting article appeared in Scientific American, titled “Evolution Of The Eye.” The subheading of the article makes the bold claim, “Scientists now have a clear vision of how our notoriously complex eye came to be.” Read More>>>

I thought I would pull together all of the links pertinent to my exchange with PZ Myers into one article for ease of navigation: Round 1 I post a series of questions for PZ Myers. PZ Myers responds. Round 2 PZ Myers and I collide in Glasgow (part 1; part 2). PZ Myers (and a guest writer) blogs about our collision (first post; second post). Round 3 I review PZ Myers’ lecture and respond to its scientific content. PZ Myers responds. Round 4 David Klinghoffer weighs in. I respond to PZ Myers’ rebuttal to my review of his lecture.