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Evolution

Why Michael Denton is an important but under-recognized figure in the ID community

Here’s an interesting assessment of non-Darwinian microbiologist Michael Denton’s work: in The Miracle of the Cell he concentrates on one example of fine-tuning after another… Biologists may have once held simplistic notions about the origin of life, back in the heady days following the iconic Miller-Urey experiment. They may have thought they were on the right track toward explaining life when the double helix was discovered in the 1950s. It might have seemed that the cell was simple enough to explain by a few accidents here and a handful of lucky chemical reactions there. Research since then has put that false hope to rest. Denton’s most famous work was his 1985 book Evolution: A Theory in Crisis. It was both Read More ›

Researchers: Why crocodiles have not changed since the dinosaur age

Researchers: The findings show that the limited diversity of crocodiles and their apparent lack of evolution is a result of a slow evolutionary rate. It seems the crocodiles arrived at a body plan that was very efficient and versatile enough that they didn't need to change it in order to survive. (They cite "punctuated equilibrium.") Read More ›

A new mammal that lived among the dinosaurs was, we are told, a “crazy beast”

At ScienceDaily: "Not only did Adalatherium have rabbit- or rodent-like ever-growing front teeth, but the back teeth are completely unlike those of any other known mammal, living or extinct. If just these teeth had been found, the mystery of what this animal was would likely not have been solved! Added to the seeming chaos is a hole in the top of the snout for which there is simply no parallel." Read More ›

Are our claimed most distant ancestors sponges or comb jellies?

Researchers: "The alternative candidates for our most distant animal relatives are the comb jellies: beautiful, transparent, globe-shaped animals named after the shimmering comb-rows of cilia they beat to propel themselves through the water." Read More ›