Spring Break
Profs debate design theory
By: Ji Ma and Steve McReynolds
Issue date: 2/16/05 Section: News
Michael Behe, professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University and thought by many to be the chief proponent in the intelligent design movement, battled Vincent Cassone, department head of biology at Texas A&M University regarding the key points of the controversial intelligent design theory Tuesday evening in Rudder Auditorium.
Intelligent design is the theory that certain aspects of the natural world were created by a source of intelligence for a specific purpose, rather than evolving from random patterns.
As applied to biology, Behe said the design is not a mystical process, but is deduced from solid physical and empirical findings, whereas Darwin's theory of evolution appeared to have glaring holes.
The heart of the intelligent design theory is what Behe termed "irreducible complexity," or the idea that an object must be taken in its entirety to function.
"If you are missing a part, it does not just work half well; it doesn't work at all," he said.
Behe argued that this is the evidence objects are created for a certain purpose, but not by random chance. He added that Darwin's Theory relies entirely on the notion that all parts of an organism evolved from a series of small alterations, and an irreducibly complex object cannot be obtained by changing another object in small increments.
Cassone challenged Behe's notions of irreducibly complex objects, specifically in the definition of it. He argued in detail from the perspective of genetics and the dominant and recessive traits, and pointed out that traits are not unique to each individual.
"By that alone, nothing in a diploid organism can be irreducibly complex," Cassone said.
Behe used the example of a mousetrap as an irreducibly complex object, and said that when any part of the mousetrap is removed, the mousetrap can no longer function as intended, and thus the mousetrap cannot be obtained by a series of gradual modifications.
Behe extended this point to the field of biology by drawing a comparison between the mousetrap to the flagellum of bacteriums and blood clotting mechanisms, explaining how each system contains many complex parts that are each essential to its function.
Intelligent design is the theory that certain aspects of the natural world were created by a source of intelligence for a specific purpose, rather than evolving from random patterns.
As applied to biology, Behe said the design is not a mystical process, but is deduced from solid physical and empirical findings, whereas Darwin's theory of evolution appeared to have glaring holes.
The heart of the intelligent design theory is what Behe termed "irreducible complexity," or the idea that an object must be taken in its entirety to function.
"If you are missing a part, it does not just work half well; it doesn't work at all," he said.
Behe argued that this is the evidence objects are created for a certain purpose, but not by random chance. He added that Darwin's Theory relies entirely on the notion that all parts of an organism evolved from a series of small alterations, and an irreducibly complex object cannot be obtained by changing another object in small increments.
Cassone challenged Behe's notions of irreducibly complex objects, specifically in the definition of it. He argued in detail from the perspective of genetics and the dominant and recessive traits, and pointed out that traits are not unique to each individual.
"By that alone, nothing in a diploid organism can be irreducibly complex," Cassone said.
Behe used the example of a mousetrap as an irreducibly complex object, and said that when any part of the mousetrap is removed, the mousetrap can no longer function as intended, and thus the mousetrap cannot be obtained by a series of gradual modifications.
Behe extended this point to the field of biology by drawing a comparison between the mousetrap to the flagellum of bacteriums and blood clotting mechanisms, explaining how each system contains many complex parts that are each essential to its function.
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