Good post!
More related information is in Steve Jones’ book “Darwins Ghost.” To wit, from pages 130 and 131 ...
“As insects battle to improve a feeble design, evolution does its best. But that best is not very impressive. The eye of the dragonfly or the water-skater has triumphed, but only because all its competitors are worse. For sight, excellence is in the eye of the beholder.
In the context of evolution, perfection is not necessary. If the eye were only a hymn to the supreme powers of a diety called natural selection it would be no more persuasive as evidence than was William Paley’s celebrated watch as proof of the existence of God. His book multiplied examples of flawless design and, with no other idea of whence it came, turned to a Great Designer. Unfortunately for him, the song of the eye has many discordant notes. They show it to be not the work of some great composer, but of an insensible drudge: an instrument, like all others, buit by a tinkerer rather than a trained engineer.”
“Unfortunately for him, the song of the eye has many discordant notes. They show it to be not the work of some great composer, but of an insensible drudge: an instrument, like all others, buit by a tinkerer rather than a trained engineer.”
The last time I checked, the eyes of flies, dragonflies in particular, are a marvel for a trained engineer to behold.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/28/BAGLVIH3KP1.DTL