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'Living Gears' Might Have Evolutionists Hopping Mad (article)
Institute for Creation Research ^ | 9-23-2013 | Brian Thomas

Posted on 09/24/2013 8:01:13 AM PDT by fishtank

'Living Gears' Might Have Evolutionists Hopping Mad by Brian Thomas, M.S. *

When planthoppers hop, they really do pop. These tiny creatures fling themselves with such fury that, frankly, things would go awry if their jumping mechanisms were not properly tuned. For example, if one leg hopped a bit sooner or with slightly greater force than the other, the insect would just fling itself sideways. Good thing tiny gears synchronize their hind legs.

Well, technically the planthopper in question is a youngster—a nymph planthopper. But sure enough, Bristol biologist Greg Sutton found two minute rows of interlocking teeth at the base of the insect's legs. When it jumps, the gears mesh, keeping the two legs in lock-step. Sutton captured the gear action, which lasts for just a few milliseconds, using high-speed cameras. This remarkable mechanism helps the planthopper launch itself hundreds of times its body length with a single jump.

According to NPR Morning Edition, Sutton said this is "the first mechanical gear system ever observed in nature."1

It may be the first gear system ever actually observed, but it is not the first known. Scientists have been examining the effects of molecular gears for some time.

Bacterial flagella, for instance, incorporate a gear system that runs at variable speeds—forward and reverse—and that even has a clutch that can disengage the motor from the flagellar propeller.2 In 2008, biochemists also reported molecular gears found in a viral DNA packaging motor.3

These examples—all appearing as if they just rolled out of a miniature machine-shop—clearly indicate a meticulous and intentional design too difficult for evolutionists to explain. Surely these living gears could only have been created.

References

Cole, A. Living Gears Help This Bug Jump. NPR Morning Edition. Posted on npr.org September 13, 2013, accessed September 14, 2013.

Thomas, B. Bacterial Clutch Denotes Design. Creation Science Update. Posted on icr.org July 1, 2008, accessed September 16, 2013.

Thomas, B. Virus Motors Impossible for Evolution. Creation Science Update. Posted on icr.org January 9, 2009, accessed September 16, 2013.

* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.

Article posted on September 23, 2013.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: creation; gears
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To: schaef21
It is a theory based on a worldview that is being taught as fact in our classrooms.

When I was in school it was called "The Theory of Evolution". We covered the definition of the word "theory" some time before that, which explained that theories are not facts, and that there can be conflicting theories about the same thing.

Are they not doing that any more?

161 posted on 10/02/2013 7:29:13 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: schaef21
It’s a position that I find hard to reconcile..... intelligence implies purposeful design and evolution is by definition a random purposeless process.

Can you show me this definition that states that evolution is random and purposeless?

162 posted on 10/02/2013 7:32:54 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: tacticalogic; schaef21
The ridiculous extreme to me is the characterization of a conclusion based on a finite number of observations as equivalent to a declaration of what is and is not possible. With that characterization you introduced the problem of induction into the discussion. Fine. You don't approve of schaef21 inferring a general law or principle from the observation of particular instances of genetic mutation.

And now in this response to me you call my noticing your introduction of the problem of induction into the discussion "a straw man argument".

I'll tell you what; find one observation of a genetic mutation increasing coded information and you falsify schaef21's conclusion and win the argument. Nothing extreme about that.

Cordially,

163 posted on 10/02/2013 8:35:09 PM PDT by Diamond (He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people,)
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To: Diamond
I'll tell you what; find one observation of a genetic mutation increasing coded information and you falsify schaef21's conclusion and win the argument.

If you find one fossilized skeleton of homo sapiens in the same strata as fossilized dinosaur bones, and you can falsify ToE. To me the difference is that the "Theory" part of ToE means they're at least honest enough to admit that the might be wrong.

164 posted on 10/03/2013 4:40:58 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: tacticalogic

****When I was in school it was called “The Theory of Evolution”. We covered the definition of the word “theory” some time before that, which explained that theories are not facts, and that there can be conflicting theories about the same thing.

Are they not doing that any more?***

Tacticalogic..... come on now. Are you being purposefully obtuse? If you are paying attention at all you know what is going on.

As someone who believes that life was caused by an intelligence, you are being mocked by the establishment as an uninformed boob.... I’m not sure why you don’t want to recognize that.


165 posted on 10/03/2013 6:46:23 AM PDT by schaef21
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To: schaef21
As someone who believes that life was caused by an intelligence, you are being mocked by the establishment as an uninformed boob.... I’m not sure why you don’t want to recognize that.

What I'm not understanding is how them being wrong is making you right.

166 posted on 10/03/2013 6:48:44 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: tacticalogic

***Can you show me this definition that states that evolution is random and purposeless?***

I apologize for having to fill in the blanks on your belief system...... the more you post, the more it is becoming clear.

You believe that life came about as a result of intelligence... although you don’t want to commit to who or what that intelligence is. You further believe that the intelligence responsible for life used evolution to create and therefore the evolution is not random and purposeless (which, believe me, is the way it is taught in our high schools and universities) but directed and purposeful.

I get it.

The secular science elites decided a long time ago that they would only look for natural causes.... for the universe, for life, for everything. As such their premise demands only natural solutions.... if there is no intelligence (which natural causes would rule out) then evolution has to be random and without purpose.... there is no other way. One only has to listen to the rantings of Dawkins, Myers, Bill Nye The Science Guy or any of the other mockers/spokesmen for evolution to understand that.

Their premise rules.... although I would say that their premise is random (they can’t empirically know that there is a natural cause for everything, nevertheless it is their inviolable premise), it is also purposeful. The purpose is to remove other viewpoints from getting a critical review.

Listen Tacticalogic, you are welcome to hold any view that you want for any reason you want but please recognize what is going on.


167 posted on 10/03/2013 7:07:03 AM PDT by schaef21
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To: tacticalogic

***What I’m not understanding is how them being wrong is making you right.***

It doesn’t make you right, either. What we can both do is look empirically at the evidence, test what we can test and come to a conclusion.

What we are doing on this forum is defending our beliefs, nothing more.

Karl Popper, who is recognized by many as the preeminent philosopher of science of the 20th century said this:

“Genuine science invites refutation; pseudoscience tries to silence dissent.”

Those who hold your views as well as mine are being silenced. I would think that we can both agree that is wrongheaded.


168 posted on 10/03/2013 7:12:53 AM PDT by schaef21
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To: schaef21
You believe that life came about as a result of intelligence... although you don’t want to commit to who or what that intelligence is.

I have personal opinions about who or what that intelligence is. I do not present them as fact and demand other people acknowledge it as fact. If you can't deal with that, then we probably shouldn't be having this conversation.

169 posted on 10/03/2013 7:18:22 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: schaef21
Those who hold your views as well as mine are being silenced. I would think that we can both agree that is wrongheaded.

I think we both agree they are wrong. We have differences of opinion in our personal theologies. You seem to be intent on "fixing" what's wrong with my religious beliefs, and irritated because I won't cooperate by telling you exactly what they are.

170 posted on 10/03/2013 7:36:19 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: tacticalogic; Diamond

****I have personal opinions about who or what that intelligence is. I do not present them as fact and demand other people acknowledge it as fact. If you can’t deal with that, then we probably shouldn’t be having this conversation.****

****I think we both agree they are wrong. We have differences of opinion in our personal theologies. You seem to be intent on “fixing” what’s wrong with my religious beliefs, and irritated because I won’t cooperate by telling you exactly what they are.****

I’m not sure why you’ve got your back up so far. The purpose of this forum (and most others) is to discuss. I don’t believe that you can find anywhere a post of mine where I have “demanded that others accept as fact” anything other than facts.

Being part of a forum involves persuasion....in order to persuade, you have to understand where the person on the other side of the conversation stands. That’s all I was trying to do.... understand where you are.

I enjoy a lively discussion on this topic, apparently you view it as an irritant. In the immortal words of Maxwell Smart: “Sorry about that, Chief”

I wish you the best.


171 posted on 10/03/2013 7:54:40 AM PDT by schaef21
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To: schaef21
I’m not sure why you’ve got your back up so far. The purpose of this forum (and most others) is to discuss. I don’t believe that you can find anywhere a post of mine where I have “demanded that others accept as fact” anything other than facts.

Is it not the objective of ICR to get the literal interpretation of Genesis accepted as scientific fact, and do you not support their efforts?

If not, the I have misunderstood the situation.

172 posted on 10/03/2013 8:05:07 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: schaef21
Being part of a forum involves persuasion....in order to persuade, you have to understand where the person on the other side of the conversation stands. That’s all I was trying to do.... understand where you are.

Our disagreement seems to be that in the context of a discussion about a scientific theory, you can't understand "where I am" without knowing what my religous beliefs are, and I don't think that's supposed to be part of the criteria for evaluating an argument.

173 posted on 10/03/2013 8:24:12 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: tacticalogic

***Our disagreement seems to be that in the context of a discussion about a scientific theory, you can’t understand “where I am” without knowing what my religous beliefs are, and I don’t think that’s supposed to be part of the criteria for evaluating an argument.***

Au contraire, Tacticalogic. I know right where you are.... at one point I asked a very simple question about whether you thought the God of the Bible might be the Creator and you refused to answer it. That was the extent of the “religious” part of this discussion.

Even without that info, I still know right where you are.


174 posted on 10/03/2013 11:15:46 AM PDT by schaef21
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To: schaef21
If you knew that, you wouldn't be "apologizing" for "having to fill in the blanks on my belief system......"

Even without that info, I still know right where you are.

Are you sure enough of your own infallibility that you don't consider what the consequences will be if you are wrong?

175 posted on 10/03/2013 11:23:11 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: tacticalogic; Diamond

***Is it not the objective of ICR to get the literal interpretation of Genesis accepted as scientific fact, and do you not support their efforts?***

First of all, I have no connection with ICR other than I get their emails and read some of their stuff. I also agree with them and yes, I support their efforts.

As far as getting literal Genesis accepted as scientific fact, that is not possible. The constructs of science don’t allow for it.

Facts are facts on both sides of the argument. If something meets the standards of the scientific method and is testable, repeatable and falsifiable there can be no argument on EITHER side.

Neither the theory of evolution or special creation meet the criteria of the scientific method.

When they dig a bone out of the ground one side evaluates it by saying “evolution is true, now let’s evaluate it”. The other side says “it was created.” The question becomes which worldview is correct and what is most logical..... neither side can prove it. You have chosen to believe pieces from both sides of the argument.

I have very good reasons for believing what I believe and I’ve devoted much of the last 10 years of my life studying it.... so I don’t come to my conclusion irrationally or because I’ve been “brainwashed” by my “religion”.

You have said several times that something is “possible”. You wouldn’t say it was possible if there was any empirical evidence, you’d use the scientific method to back it up.

You therefore are operating under a “faith” system just like me and those who agree with me and evolutionists and those who agree with them.

I’d love to lay out my arguments for you but you’ve made it quite evident that you don’t want to hear them. So be it.


176 posted on 10/03/2013 1:09:56 PM PDT by schaef21
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To: fishtank

There are no Evolutionists.

There are educated and uneducated in matters of science


177 posted on 10/03/2013 1:14:06 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Travon... Felony assault and battery hate crime)
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To: schaef21
I’d love to lay out my arguments for you but you’ve made it quite evident that you don’t want to hear them. So be it.

I'll discuss evidence.

If your arguments involve having to assume your religious beliefs in order to interpret the evidence, not so much.

178 posted on 10/03/2013 1:16:55 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: tacticalogic; Diamond

***If your arguments involve having to assume your religious beliefs in order to interpret the evidence, not so much.***

Your beliefs are religious as well.

Evidence requires interpretation. Interpretations are made within a worldview. Mine is faith-based (religious), so is yours, so are atheist/evolutionists.... they are religious because NONE of them can be proven by observable, testable facts.

This is from the book “I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist”:

“The Creation/Evolution debate is not about religion versus science or the Bible versus science - it’s about good science versus bad science. Likewise, it’s not about faith versus reason - it’s about reasonable faith versus unreasonable faith”.

I agree with the authors.

Using Ockham’s Razor, what makes the most sense?


179 posted on 10/03/2013 1:32:07 PM PDT by schaef21
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To: schaef21
Evidence requires interpretation. Interpretations are made within a worldview. Mine is faith-based (religious), so is yours, so are atheist/evolutionists.... they are religious because NONE of them can be proven by observable, testable facts.

None of what can be "proven by observable, testables facts"? I cannot tell exactly what the subject of that proclaimation is supposed to be. You were talking about "worldviews", but I don't quite get the significance of not being able to measure or test a worldview.

180 posted on 10/03/2013 4:43:17 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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