[Coyoteman]

“The probability of a protein forming by chance would be 1064 [10 with 64 zeros after it] to 1!”

These mathematical projections are useless if the factors are not correctly modeled.

It is common to see mathematicians calculate the odds of all sorts of events as next to impossible; but does evolution actually work in that manner?

Evidence suggests it does not.

Here is an example of two ways of looking at the evidence. You need to roll 25 dice and come up with all sixes. Pretty huge odds against that, eh? Never happen in hours or even days of rolling dice, eh?

Well what if evolution rolls all the dice and keeps the sixes, rolling only those which are not sixes. You'd end up with all sixes in a very short time.

With these two ways of looking at the problem mathematicians who come up with the huge odds are choosing the first method, while evolution works with natural selection--much more akin to the second.

Here is an online lecture that explains it quite well:

Making Genetic Networks Operate Robustly: Unintelligent Non-design Suffices

Description: Mathematical computer models of two ancient and famous genetic networks act early in embryos of many different species to determine the body plan. Models revealed these networks to be astonishingly robust, despite their 'unintelligent design.' This examines the use of mathematical models to shed light on how biological, pattern-forming gene networks operate and how thoughtless, haphazard, non-design produces networks whose robustness seems inspired, begging the question what else unintelligent non-design might be capable of.

I shouldn't have to explain all of these things. The information is out there, but creationists just choose to ignore it.

[tpanther]

Here is an example of two ways of looking at the evidence.

I shouldn't have to explain all of these things. The information is out there, but creationists just choose to ignore it.

Supreme arrogant evo-cultist irony at it's very finest!

[Fichori]

“The information is out there, but creationists just choose to ignore it.” [excerpt]

Where did I say that?

[Fichori]

RM,

Could you please clarify concerning the last line in 72 where Coyoteman says that "The information is out there, but creationists just choose to ignore it."

Is that not mind reading of an entire class of FReepers?

Thanks.

[Elsie]

These mathematical projections are useless if the factors are not correctly modeled.

All righty then!

[ReignOfError]

The odds of winning the Powerball are about 1:150,000,000. And yet people routinely win.

At no level, no number of powers of ten, does unlikely become impossible. You can refer to something as impossible in practical terms, because there are not enough repetitions for the unlikely event to occur. “One in a million” is meant to describe someone as unique or nearly so, but it describes at least a thousand people in China and a dozen in New York City.

With enough repetition, an unlikely event becomes all but inevitable. It’s an infinite number of monkeys problem.