[js1138]

"Surely, the best way to build a bat's wing is not also the best way to build whale's flipper. Such anatomical peculiarities make no sense if the structures are uniquely engineered and unrelated."

Quite frankly, I interpret it as an attempt to reason that living creatures were not created based on divine design. Please let me know how you would interpret this statment.

I interpret it to mean that it is more likely that the structural similarities are the result of common descent than the result of being minted from scratch. The ultimate cause isn't mentioned or inplied.

[bluejay]

I interpret it to mean that it is more likely that the structural similarities are the result of common descent than the result of being minted from scratch.

Well, yes. This is exactly what I think it means.

The ultimate cause isn't mentioned or inplied.

This is the part where we disagree. I think the implication is clear - the authors of the book are making an argument against intelligent design. It is hard to believe that they would make an argument against divine creation and imply nothing else.