What Defines an Organism? Biologists Say 'Purpose.'

ICR News ^ | December 10, 2009 | Brian Thomas, M.S.

[GodGunsGuts]

David Queller and Joan Strassmann, evolutionary biologists at Rice University, recently proposed a new way to describe what makes an organism a unified whole. They defined an organism as an entity made up of parts that cooperate well for an overall purpose, and do so with minimal conflict. But how do parts like these get together, and where does purposeful behavior come from?...

[metmom]

And the simpler chemicals formed into amino acids how?

And how did the proteins form?

Not to mention that as the larger and more complex, a molecule becomes, the more chemicals it takes.

So all those simpler chemicals bumping around form larger ones with much more space around them, thereby decreasing the chance of interaction between them.

Since the rate of reaction is partially dependent on temperature, concentration of reactants, and surface area of the reactants, it goes to reason that as the reaction progresses, it slows down.

So while there may have been some reason to expect the initial reactions of reactants to form some slightly more complex compounds, may have occurred, the probability of the reactions to yet more complex compounds decreases.

Not to mention that proteins are synthesized within the cell. Unless you can demonstrate that they have been know to actually form by themselves outside the cell.

[longtermmemmory]

This could be an effort by environmentalist types to return the largly humiliated concept of the “Gaea Principle” that said the earth itself was a living organism...

[metmom]

Absolutely, the probability is low, but not impossible. However, if we can figure these things out and reproduce it in the 1950s, less than 60 years after we were riding around on horses and going to the bathroom in outhouses, that perspective kind of makes you look at the 'astronomical' nature of the circumstances a little differently.

Oh, come on. It was the 1950's not the 1500's

[count-your-change]

To cut to the chase: Again the question of what God COULD have done is beside the point, the question is what He DID do.

“That's because evolution attempts to explain what happened, not who did it, or how, or why. Evolution in no way precludes God - it can't.”

Evolution cannot explain the what except by a narrative story and interpretation, evolution attempts to explain the how with with mutation, natural selection, etc. but evolution is materialistic because by definition of its workings there is no who or why.

“As to all the characteristics of man's makeup, I've never heard any evolutionary theory explaining all that - or even attempting to.”

Perhaps you might refer to Darwin's ‘Origin’ as he attempts to explain some of those very things.

[Natural Law]

"Darwinism cannot admit to purpose as in direction since the whole foundation of Darwinism is chance and circumstance."

The purpose of "Darwinism" or natural selection and evolution (for you folks in Crevo-Linda) is succesful reproduction. Come on, try to keep up.

[xcamel]

I didn’t

[xcamel]

Wasn’t gonna go there, Buddy...

[xcamel]

ring-ring, and zoom-zoom again...

[UCANSEE2]

Give me a billion years, and I’m sure I can make something of it...

OK. Which star system would you like? (You can't have the Sun/Earth, it's already taken)

[metmom]

ROTFLMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xcamel]

Frankly, I think they’re all taken....

[UCANSEE2]

Lightning.

Lightning occurs due to the existence of our particular 'atmosphere', and due to a change in potential between that atmosphere and the surface.

There is no evidence that there was lightning before there was 'life' and a conducive atmosphere on the planet. All evidence shows that the atmosphere has substantially changed over time, and that the prokaryotes and eukaryotes helped build this atmosphere.

[count-your-change]

And the purpose of successful reproduction is to carry forward evolution. Right. While you follow that circle no matter how fast you run it doesn’t matter.

[count-your-change]

ring-ring, and zoom-zoom again...

[UCANSEE2]

created in the first moments of the big-bang. Remember, matter is neither created or destroyed.

If it cannot be created or destroyed, how can it be created in the first moment?

[xcamel]

This camel was no atheist, and it must really be painful to be you.

I hope you're on someones prayer list.

[Wacka]

Indoor modern bathrooms became widespread around 1900 and the auto was invented in the 1890s.
Both of these things have evolved too.

[UCANSEE2]

And how long do those *right conditions* have to last to produce chemical structures complex enough to be viable?

Six days, give or take a few days.

[scottdeus12]

“....must really be painful to be you”

Only when reading your posts....and then it’s more like agony!

[UCANSEE2]

I just think it's beyond the pale for someone to jump into the middle of a conversation and act as if they are God's gift to the world and everyone else is dumber than a box of rocks.

You haven't then, been on these threads very long. The rest of us are kinda used to it.