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At Evolution News: Michael Denton Explains the Miracle of Your Heart

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David Klinghoffer writes:

The human heart was a wonder before humans knew much of anything scientifically or medically about it. It is the organ in our body most often turned into a metaphor: to “have a heart” (as distinguished from “having heart,” which means something different), “of pure heart,” “light of heart,” “a heart bursting with…,” and more. As we feel it working in our chest, it can tell us things before we register them consciously. Different kinds of palpitations may alert us to the presence of an enemy or predator, or before we realize it, that we are in love.

Now add to this the wonders revealed by science about this biological pump. A new video, “The Miracle of the Human Heart Explained by Biologist Michael Denton,” notes that if we live to be 80 years old, it will have beat 2 billion notes of life. Each beat, Dr. Denton points out, pumps a hundred billion red blood cells: “By the heart’s unceasing activity, it ensures a bountiful supply of oxygen to provide us with the vital energy of life.” No human invention can compare with it.

But there is still more that most people – probably most scientists – have never even considered, and that seals the case for the heart’s intelligent design. As Denton explains in his recent book, The Miracle of Man, nature was specially crafted — he calls it “prior fitness” — to make the work of the heart possible. Here, he mentions just three illustrations: the prior fitness of light, of water, and of transition metals. A proper accounting of nature’s prior fitness for human life would “fill many volumes.” This brief video gives only a hint of that. The Miracle of Man gives more than a hint. Learn about the miracle and share it with friends and family:

The Miracle of the Human Heart Explained by Biologist Michael Denton

The heart: a miracle of biological functionality, essential for our physical existence. As Denton explains, our circulatory system depends upon numerous factors of prior fitness in the properties of our atmosphere, sunlight, and transition metal atoms. Do we ascribe this exceptional confluence of wonders to nature or to the God who designed nature? Do we worship dirt and static electricity or a God who transcends it all?

Comments
Every minute 100 trillion oxygen molecules over every square millimeter of the alveoli surfaces of the lungs On one hand, engineer bringing system up: let's start in the test harness with 100 molecules over 1 square inch, and increase over time Then we can work on quality distribution Then we'll increase scale Evolution: 1 try - trillion or bust? Got it! How lucky!es58
August 22, 2022
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To me, the crushing evidence against evolution lies in the fact that bacteria, unchanged since life first appeared, have ion channels. “Bacterial ion channels were known, but only in special cases, such as outer membrane porins in Escherichia coli and bacterial toxins that form pores in their target (bacterial or mammalian) membranes. The exhaustive coverage provided by a decade of bacterial genome sequencing has revealed that ion channels are actually widespread in bacteria,” Compton EL, Mindell JA. Bacterial Ion Channels. EcoSal Plus. 2010 Sep;4(1). doi: 10.1128/ecosalplus.3.3.2. PMID: 26443789. They are also found in archaea. And ion channels are not just holes in the bacterial outer membrane - the ions can get in through voltage gated pores - things like the design of a diode. No good looking up literature for origin - their evolution is “poorly understood” or the bacteria somehow “developed” them.Belfast
August 21, 2022
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You're welcome! It is beyond desperation to think that blind and mindless processes could produce such a system.ET
August 21, 2022
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ET @14 Thanks for the post on wet electricity. I haven’t realized that before. Shame on me, , i was like a biologist … these guys also don’t realize lots of things.martin_r
August 21, 2022
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Wet electricity. Whereas the electricity that powers our computers comes from the flow of electrons through a conductor and “hates” water, the electricity that runs our bodies is designed for a wet environment and uses pumped ions to help convey differing messages to our command center. In this environment mere electrons are of little use because they would be easily dispersed. What is needed is something bigger. And as I eluded to in my opening an ion or ions will fit the bill. Well there just happen to be two atoms well suited for ionization- two atoms with 1 outer valence electron. If we take a look at the Periodic Table, and also a look at the electron shell arrangement (note the sodium diagram on the right and also the potassium arrangement, we see these atoms are perfect fits for the job of positive ions (as both have only one outer valence electron). Now we have the ions but we need a way for them to get into and out of the cell-> Ion Channels
Ion channels are proteins that line holes in the plasma membrane. They can open on demand to let ions in and out of the cell. They allow nerve impulses to travel, cause your heart to beat, and allow your muscles to contract. In many cells, channels and another kind of protein called a pump together maintain a relatively constant negative charge within your cells. This net negative charge, or membrane potential, affects the entry and exit of a variety of materials. page 15 of Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics: Getting the Big Picture
10 million to 100 million per second!
The importance of these precise structures and hence functioning of protein machines like these channels cannot be understated. Potassium channels, like other channels that pass other ions from one side of the cell membrane to the other, have a particular architecture that allows them to open and close upon command. We now know that intricately designed and mechanically fine-tuned ion channels determine the rhythm and allow an electrical impulse initiated when we stub our toe to be transmitted to the brain.- Ibid page 19
However even these, in comparison to electrons, huge ions also get lost in the wet environment. So what is needed are pumps along the way to pump ions in and also out. In the case of our nerve cells, ions go in to start the signal and are pumped out to reset that part of the system so it is ready for the next (or continuing) sensation. See nerve cell. (Some venoms and poisons effect these pumps (stop them from working) thereby shutting down the nervous system of the inflicted- ie paralysis sets in.) However our nerves to not touch each other as wires do in an electrical system to make a circuit. Neurons have functional connections called synapses. These can connect neuron to neuron or other types of cells (for example muscle). Between the synapse and the next cell is a gap- the synaptic cleft. This gap is too large for even ions to traverse. So to make the connection- to send the signal from one cell to the next, neurotransmitters are sent. These flow in one direction. And once the neurotransmitters reach their destination, that cell responds accordingly, and all the neurotransmitters are dismantled and shuttled back to the transmitting site to be refabbed and ready for the next signal. (some do linger a bit longer and then disperse) This is key because if the neurotransmitters stay docked the receiving cell would remain locked in that sensation. And if any unused neurotransmitters- the synaptic cleft is basically flooded to ensure signal transmission- remain they will just fill in the docking site when the first arrivals are gone. IOW the receiving cell will be locked in that past sensation. And there are different types of neurotransmitters for different sensations and purposes. How is this evidence for ID? The nervous system exhibits planning- it takes planning to get the right ions, ion channels, pumps and neurotransmitters.ET
August 21, 2022
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LoL! @ seversky- the chimp wannabe that couldn't design anything useful.ET
August 21, 2022
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Belfast @Seversky @1 Your argument is interesting but contains a significant flaw you have overlooked. It’s stupid.
:lol: I suppose Sewersky use the intelligence that also doesn't met his standards but why in the world would use a damaged intelligence ? He should use something he invented . :lol: :lol:Lieutenant Commander Data
August 20, 2022
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@Seversky @1 Your argument is interesting but contains a significant flaw you have overlooked. It’s stupid.Belfast
August 20, 2022
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Martin_r at 5, Your computer designed and built itself also.relatd
August 20, 2022
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Jerry at 4, "The real question is why this non-rational behavior is so prevalent?" You should understand that there are only two choices. 1) Nothing made everything. From the universe to living things on Earth, NOTHING made you. 2) God created. He made everything, including human beings. What you call non-rational is very rational. Those who want to tell people nothing made them also tell them there's no God and nothing happens after you die. Those who promote this so strongly want an Atheist society. They want religion out of public life. They want to live by the flesh. The tolerant are vandalizing Catholic Churches and places providing help to pregnant women and those who have just had their babies and need things like free diapers. They want a dictatorship where people only listen to them instead of parents or religious leaders.relatd
August 20, 2022
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Sev please take time to walk that back and think about what issues might occur with two hearts. Think also about the extra space needed, energy to maintain both, possible back flow and the pressure from both causing one to burst. Think of the additional neural connections required for the the extra heart, also the additional ones needed to regulate the rhythm for both beating. What if one doesn’t work and waits for the other to malfunction to kick in. Sound like a good idea right. Well if the other isn’t used a lot it will definitely atrophy and be useless when an emergency eventually does happen. And then the active heart has to make up for the dead weight of the inactive heart. There are really so many issues that can occurAaronS1978
August 20, 2022
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Seversky @1
And why waste time with the appendix which seem to be more trouble than it’s worth?
again, i hate talking to people like you, but i can't resist, because you keep repeating this Darwinian non-sense and you mislead people ... get it finally ... from ScienceDaily:
Appendix Isn't Useless At All: It's A Safe House For Good Bacteria https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071008102334.htm
Moreover, Darwinists claim, that appendix evolved repeatedly 30 times independently, in evolutionary unrelated species .... from Science.org
The appendix may not be useless after all. The worm-shaped structure found near the junction of the small and large intestines evolved 32 times among mammals, according to a new study. The finding adds weight to the idea that the appendix helps protect our beneficial gut bacteria when a serious infection strikes. https://www.science.org/content/article/appendix-evolved-more-30-times?cookieSet=1#:~:text=The%20appendix%20may%20not%20be,when%20a%20serious%20infection%20strikes.
If appendix is not another example of common design, then i don't know .... Darwinists believe in miracles ...martin_r
August 20, 2022
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AnimatedDust @2
Seversky, what have you designed in your life?
People like Seversky won't be able to assemble a simple IKEA cabinet without a guide book, but these people always know what is good / bad design ... (Of course, God's design is always bad )martin_r
August 20, 2022
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Human heart = a mechanical pump controlled by an electric signal ... How on earth can a rational, educated, 21st century person even consider, that such a pump wasn't engineered ... seriously ... in 21st century ??? i really don't get it ... what is wrong with all these people ? Moreover, such a pump lasts to work for at least 400 Years (sharks), non-stop, no maintenance required from outside. It is an engineering marvel ...martin_r
August 20, 2022
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There are now literally hundreds of videos, probably over a thousand describing the truth of ID. Yesterday I watched one by Michael Behe and Eric Metaxas. In it Behe discusses the basis for ID. But more telling was his description near the end of the efforts to suppress ID. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNe-syuDJBg&t=1818s Some of the key quotes were
Name calling and condescension is the answer to where’s the evidence. Then the just so story. Fear of ID is what leads to the circling the wagons by scientists Science cannot tell me why the universe exists. Or if it has a purpose. What’s not science becomes anti science. Things that are assumed to be true and beyond discussion - specifically Evolution and Darwin’s theory is one of those things.
Metaxas was angry that those things go on in America. The real question is why this non-rational behavior is so prevalent? I found out that for a price, Behe, Meyer, Axe. Marks and others have extensive courses on ID. https://www.discoveryu.org/collections If you want to support ID and be more conversant take one or more courses.jerry
August 20, 2022
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Seversky at 1, You should write a book: Annoyed at God - All the things God did Wrong. Meanwhile, like a good Father, God corrects those who love Him. And He has given us rules to avoid making mistakes in our lives. Being "all-loving" does not mean we can, or should, do anything we want. A good Father makes sure His children avoid getting into trouble.relatd
August 19, 2022
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Seversky, what have you designed in your life? Your designs are always better than God's. Oh, wait. Those aren't designs. That's just a human spouting off criticism, while the immeasurable gift of his heart just keeps chugging away, allowing the criticism to continue unabated. The irony. :( The folly.AnimatedDust
August 19, 2022
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The heart is clearly a vital organ. So much so you have to wonder why the Designer didn't put in a second one as a back-up given we have two lungs and two kidneys, for example. An extra spleen, pancreas and thyroid gland wouldn't have gone amiss, either. And why waste time with the appendix which seem to be more trouble than it's worth?Seversky
August 19, 2022
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