Author: johnnyb

Michael Levin puts into words the general understanding of the ID community regarding the relevance of design/engineering understandings of the cell, and how intuitions from computer science and other engineering disciplines relate to biology. Starting around 8:30 in the clip below: Computer science is all about understanding how to build things… You don’t really understand Read More…

Many people think that directed mutations don’t exist. This video explores both the theory behind directed mutations (what is meant by “directed”, how is selection involved, etc.) as well as the mechanics and specifics of many different types of directed mutations. It’s a lot to take in but well worth your time.

I am pleased to announce my new book, “Learn to Program with Assembly” (Amazon link here)!

I’m doing a series of videos on mechanisms of directed mutations that you all may be interested in. I have trouble how there remains adherents to the modern synthesis in light of all of the data to the contrary that has come out over the last 20 years. More videos to come, too.

For reasons beyond my comprehension, there is a significantly large (or at least loud) group of Thomists (followers of Thomas Aquinas) who reject Intelligent Design, allegedly on Thomistic grounds. I recently came across an old paper that addresses most of the criticisms of ID raised by Thomists that I have heard. Anyway, I had thought Read More…

Volume 3 Issue 2 of Communications of the Blyth Institute is now available. I’ll probably be making posts for each of the articles individually, but the table of contents is below.

I noticed that earlier this year, the AnswersInAtheism YouTube channel reviewed a paper of mine earlier this year. Video below for those interested.

Mung had asked me to do a thread on common descent and common design. So, anyway, I’ll get things started by stating my own thoughts on these ideas. I intend this to be an open discussion, but I also find having a starting idea tends to help get things started. So, as I have maintained Read More…

So, we’ve been talking about directed mutations a bit the last few days, whether reactivating pseudogenes, or recognizing that cells can direct mutations to genes that need mutating. The point that I made to Bob was that there is a middle ground between “general mutation rate” and “mutations going to a specific base pair that Read More…

One thing that I’ve found interesting is how ignorant many people – even many biologists! – are about the mutational processes in the cell. The idea that mutations come from copying “errors” is so embedded in our collective consciousness, that it is hard to get people to even fathom alternatives. Thinking of mutation as a Read More…

This is an old paper, but it is surprisingly little-known: Pseudogenes: Are They “Junk” or Functional DNA?. It’s a review paper of pseudogene function. My favorite example in the paper is the antigenic variation. Essentially, the pseudogenes store alternative configurations of parts of genes. The organism can quickly reconfigure itself by swapping various parts in Read More…

I found this paper fascinating: “Pseudogene repair driven by selection pressure applied in experimental evolution.” There is also a news article about it which explains what is going on in less technical detail.

I wish I were kidding. But I’m not. You must listen to the whole thing. Outnumbered: Stephen Meyer Debates a Chemist and a Biologist

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Naturalism and Its Alternatives in Scientific Methodologies, now is your chance to do so. The Kindle version has been made free until Wednesday, so, if you’re interested, pick it up now! If you have been curious about the question of methodological naturalism, and wondered what the alternative Read More…