Discovery Institute's Blog, page 479

Three Flawed Evolutionary Models of Embryological Development and One Correct One

Throughout this series on PZ Myers, evolution, and embryology, we have discussed four models of vertebrate embryo development. To help further simplify this debate, these four models are illustrated below and described. Please note that the first three models are flawed in varying degrees, and that some of the descriptions adapt language from the arguments of PZ Myers and various scientific papers.

Model 1 -- Haeckelian Recapitulation:
Discussion: According to this model of embryogenesis...

Review: Demolishing Junk DNA as an Icon of Evolution

Over at Access Research Network Dr. David Tyler weighs in with a review of Jonathan Wells' The Myth of Junk DNA.

Demolishing Junk DNA as an icon of evolutionFor many of us, an important characteristic of science is self-correction. We are proud of the way new findings catalyse re-evaluation and, if corrections are needed, the development of new knowledge. If you are like this, be prepared to be shocked when you read Jonathan Wells' latest book. The concept of Junk DNA was widely held ...

New Scientific Research Papers Published Since Myth of Junk DNA Confirm Jonathan Wells' Thesis

In The Myth of Junk DNA, Jonathan Wells predicted that "assuming that any feature of an organism has no function discourages further investigation. In this respect, the myth of junk DNA has become a science stopper." (p. 107). Recently published literature has overwhelmingly confirmed Wells' thesis, and evolutionary scientists who cling to the myth of junk DNA are being refuted by continual research publications.

We previously covered a May 2011 article in the journal RNA which reported...

Radio Hot Talker Thom Hartmann Uses Classic Darwin Lobby Tricks to Ignore Challenges to Evolution

Talk show host Thom Hartmann provided listeners with a clear example of how Darwin-only activists try to dismiss scientific challenges to evolution by relabeling them as "religion."

This morning, Discovery Institute's Casey Luskin was on progressive hot talker Thom Hartmann's show. With Texas reviewing proposed supplemental curriculum materials, the topic was supposed to be science education and standards in Texas. Instead of an interesting discussion about one of the nation's...

The Myth of Junk DNA Grows With the Telling

Since the publication of Jonathan Wells' The Myth of Junk DNA, many articles have come out documenting more functions for non-protein-coding DNA. It looks like Dr. Wells sampled the water just as the tide was starting to come in, and it's still rising. Richard Dawkins, Larry Moran, and other proponents of junk DNA should move to higher ground.

Sex, the Queen of Problems in Evolutionary Biology

The origin of sexually reproducing organisms from asexually reproducing ancestors is a profound mystery which has baffled many an evolutionary biologist. The origin and subsequent maintenance of sex and recombination is a phenomenon not easily explained by Darwinian evolution. Indeed, there are several substantive, well-known reasons why the origin of sex presents a serious problem for conventional evolutionary explanations. Graham Bell described the dilemma in his book, The Masterpiece of...

Ken Miller's Inaccurate and Biased Evolution Curriculum Intentionally Disregards Texas Science Standards

Last month, we issued a report, "Evaluation of Supplementary Biology and Evolution Curricular Materials Submitted by Publishers for Adoption by the Texas State Board of Education," which analyzed instructional materials from ten publishers that were proposed for use in Texas. When that report was prepared, many of proposed materials from the influential publisher Pearson / Prentice Hall were not accessible online. We were subsequently given access to those materials and we have now

Paul Nelson & Jonathan Wells Take Their Case to the Society for Developmental Biology Annual Meeting

Next week, the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) will be holding its 2011 annual meeting in Chicago. Paul Nelson and Jonathan Wells, both SDB members, will be presenting posters designed (pun intended) to provoke discussion. Both Paul and Jonathan hope any SDB members who read this will stop by their posters to talk.

Details:

Jonathan is up first, and will present his poster at the Saturday, July 23 session, from 12:30-2:00 pm, at the Riverside Center West facility of the Hyatt...

Challenging the Precious Pharyngula

We've seen that at various points in this debate over evolution and embryology, PZ Myers has disavowed that evolutionary processes should necessarily lead us to expect similarities between vertebrate embryos in their early stages. Thus, PZ has said things like "Neo-Darwinism does not predict that early development will be conserved" or "evolutionary theory predicts differences as well as similarities."

But at other times he has seemingly contradicted himself, claiming that evolutionary...

Stephen Meyer on Academic Freedom and the Sternberg Case