Thesis on Science
— Thesis: Looking across all scientific disciplines—including, astronomy, biology, cell biology, chemistry, evolution theory, genetics, geology, information theory, paleontology, and physics—the scientific evidence provides support for design in nature, intelligent design, exceptional characteristics, and unique events.
This thesis points to evidence that appears throughout the history of the universe and on planet Earth. Rapid appearances of life forms bring features and characteristics that do not appear to have prior developmental (transition) stages and just arrive and thus are not a result of randomness, natural selection, or chance.
What follows below is a look at special features, characteristics, and evidence that support the thesis as stated above. A selected set of examples—previously listed on the Overview page—are briefly described here in as simple terms as possible. A companion to this page is the Thesis Support page that adds additional perspectives to all that is observed here.
The examples addressed here include (option: read and scroll down or click on a title below to move to a specific section below):
• Fine Tuning (e.g., astronomy, life systems, etc.)
• Information (e.g., genetic, body plan, etc.)
• Life Forms (Sudden Appearance, Complex Body Plan)
Please note, a more extensive and complete description of each of the following topics could easily take long write ups needing 5, 10, 50 or more pages. The goal here is to briefly highlight a concept, evidence, and then indicate significance of each example. The WindowView Science Booklist also lists helpful sources with more extensive information.
In 1999 a Touchstone magazine included articles on Intelligent Design. One author’s main point was a review of the logic that applies to understand if something in nature is a necessity (e.g., the order chemical crystals exhibit in relation to chemical properties). The second possible occurrence in nature is by chance. Many examples of events or settings in nature are easily identified as coming about by chance. The final stage in working through the logic is if something is not by necessity, nor by chance, then characteristics exhibited by structure, function, or other aspect of nature certainly arrive at the potential conclusion something is by design. Keep such a concept in mind as you look at the examples below.
Significance: The logic described above is a pathway that in recent times has in fact lead to the conclusion that specific observations, structures, functions, and features in the universe and life exhibit design.
Fine Tuning (e.g., astronomy, life systems, etc.)
The idea that fine tuning relates to what we see in nature started many decades ago with a few examples, then the listing expanded, and kept expanding to today’s scientific related sources listing hundreds of elements to fine tuning.
One listing with Fine-Tuning Factors for Life in the Universe starts with the following subjects that are examples of fine tuning:
1. Strong nuclear force constant
2. Weak nuclear force constant
3. Gravitational force constant
4. Electromagnetic force constant
5. Ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitational force constant
6. Ratio of proton to electron mass
7. Ratio of number of protons to number of electrons
8. Ratio of proton to electron charge
9. Expansion rate of the universe
10.Mass density of the universe
One astronomer’s way to present appreciation for fine tuning is to illustrate consequence to what if something is slightly greater or lesser.
For example, gravity if greater strength would restrain the universe as we see today and if less strong the expansion would be greater and we might not even be seeing stars and galaxies as we do today.
Here are a few more descriptions that relate to fine tuning:
• the universe is fine-tuned (with just the right conditions) making life possible
• the placement of Earth in our galaxy is specifically in a 'sweet spot,' a habitable zone, of currently favorable galactic conditions for life. (This kind of condition, by itself, eliminates numerous other possible life bearing planets in the Milky Way. The same principle reduces life bearing candidates in all other galaxies of the universe).
• the Earth, sun, and lunar relationships are uniquely fine-tuned to support the series of life forms that have appeared over the course of Earth's history.
• numerous conditions specific to planet Earth (including factors from the atmosphere, to the surface and depths of oceans, to the plate tectonics that shift continents, to the composition of the Earth's core), make for a just right environment here—the Earth is fine tuned for life by a multitude of factors—we live on a Privileged Planet.
Significance: Life on Earth would not be supported or exist without the long list of fine tuning elements to be as exact as they are. So many elements suggest life is otherwise not at all probable and this leads to support for incredible and complex design.
Information (e.g., genetic, body plan, etc.)
First, one basic point rarely referred to as the ‘key element’ that makes life possible is complex and specific information. Once recognized, then information appears at the base to life’s existence and life’s origin requires information—that is way more fundamental than a planet or chemicals. Why is this incredible …
• No explanation exists for a stepwise trial and error origin of biological (evolution based genetic and epigenetic) information (i.e., no clear accounting for the origin of coded, complex, and specified information in life forms)
• Information specificity relates to how specific a protein molecule needs to be (e.g., functional enzyme) or complexity of genetic information (e.g., DNA) points to design and that no simple or random alteration leads to another life form.
Significance: Existence of life and even the universe is founded on information and that when complex and specific leads to the concept of design and further the source of such information would require a mind (of the Designer).
Various features in life forms such as a bacterial flagellum, proteins that make up molecular machines (e.g, ATPsynthase, Topoisomerase) and active sites of enzymes, the human immune system, structure of the eye, and other examples require all and every specific part present in order to function.
Irreducible means take away one part then the function of what is complex becomes non-functional. Further, the suggestion that something evolved over time before becoming functional implies life would waste vital energy producing non-functional yet much needed components before ever arriving at a fully functional state.
Significance: Life forms do not exhibit such random intermediate elements and this further supports the concept of the all or none features are exceptional and a result of design.
Cell biologists have explored and discovered the presence of complex structures in cells—some are referred to as molecular machines. Some of these machines are made up of a number of very specific protein molecules.
A good example of the true nature of a molecular machine comes by examining a single protein like an enzyme. The briefest account to give here is to acknowledge a protein is made up of a string of Amino Acid (AA) molecules. Twenty different kinds of AAs that are of a specific type (left handed and not a mix of left and right handed types) are found life’s proteins. A protein that is perhaps a chain of 2000 AAs takes on a particularly important three-dimensional shape (required to work properly in animal metabolism).
But here is the awesome fact. Of the long chain of AAs a short segment (for example 150 AAs) is the ‘active site’ where the enzyme function takes place. Those 150 AAs need to be in a specific order of the possible types of AAs. The probability that chance alone would arrive at the specific order of the 150 AAs, let alone any order to the rest of the 2000 AAs, is a probability of one chance in a possible hundred trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion possible combinations of the order of the 150 AAs.
Significance: Saying that life is by chance or arrived by some random process is seemingly defeated by this example alone. What if one enzyme might have come by chance—we need to remember that humans have some 1300 enzymes so that our metabolism works and we live in comfort! That moves toward an appreciation of what is highly improbable, yet here we are!
This subject is characterized by the expression of: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”
Again, a brief explanation is hardly sufficient because life is based on complexity in many ways. One way to briefly give an account here is to recognize that life’s metabolism includes processes that produce necessary cellular compounds. The question above comes up when looking at the pathway of a physiology process that makes a specific chemical product. The curious aspect is that there are many examples of production pathways where it takes the same product to be part of the production of itself. How then could life processes have been established stepwise, biologically, and perhaps by evolution, with such processes being necessary at the very start of a life form—not later after a series of stages leading up to a functional process.
One example to mention is that a sulfur containing Amino Acid is produced by a metabolic process (in you) that requires a protein which needs that same Amino Acid in it’s composition in order to work properly. The product of the process might lead to making the protein, but which came first, the AA or the protein?
Significance: This is one more example of a unique facet to life’s existence. There are numerous other chemical and genetic examples that illustrate the concept that life is placed in a manner where chemicals, processes, information, etcetera, just come together all at the same time.
Take a small handheld radio and open it up. What you will see is an electronics board with little silver colored lines running across the surface. The electrons (energy carrying the radio signals and information) run through the specific silver colored circuits that exist on that circuit board.
The example here is something like a circuit board to illustrate that when a child is developing through stages up to the date of birth, the order of development follows specific lines or ordered processes. Kind of like following the radio’s information traveling in specific order along the circuits. The order of that process must be exact or else there is no function.
Development circuitry is thus an expression of the complex and specific pathway of child development in the womb. If for any reason the order is compromised and not followed in an exact manner, the fetus (developing child) enters into the likely process leading to miscarriage. That is a natural result that is likely programmed in the mother to alleviate birth of an abnormal human.
Evolution theory might suggest that during child development mutations would lead to new potential life forms. The problem is the developmental circuitry counters any such random mode of change that are merely assumed would lead to different life forms.
Significance: This is just one of many examples where the thoughts on how biological evolution would work, as Charles Darwin proposed, fails to explain any origin to different life forms—especially if assuming one form leads to another vastly different type.
Life Forms (Sudden Appearance, Complex Body Plan)
There are differing points of view on the the age of planet Earth. One view is related to an interpretation of Scripture. Beyond that view there is evidence from various sources of scientific evidence for an older Earth. And there are several Scripture related explanations proposed for an old Earth.
Regardless of exactly how old, the following is simply is a look from an allowance of time with distinct timeframes wherein there would be sudden appearances. The main point to each appearance is complexity and specificity to types of life forms with various body plans and that reflects design.
• macroevolution (i.e., the Darwinian general theory; a complete fossil record lacks the myriad of of transitional intermediates testifying of all life arising from one ancient ancestral life form.)
• life forms appear on Earth in sudden appearances (a blink of an eye in geological terms) and only in conjunction with earthly conditions that are appropriate to sustain those forms.
• fossil records reveal dispersals, abundance, and diversity of life forms that come far too quickly to support the Darwin’s general theory. This is contrary to key assumption of expanses of time are sufficient for evolution by natural selection. (Darwin acknowledged this as a problem in light of the sudden appearance of Cambrian animals and later the appearance of flowering plants.)
• the fossil record is now deemed adequate and sufficiently complete to give a fair assessment of the history of life from 3.8 billion years ago to the present day. More than the lack of transitional intermediate forms that Darwin expected, scientists report that when extinction events happen, life rebounds, including new forms, quickly (tens of thousands of years) after each event.
Significance: If correct, sudden appearances and life over time once on Earth points more to intelligent design and less a result of random and chance events leading to evolution of life forms—especially in the absence of any explanation for evidence for any simple (perhaps single cell) ancestral life form that fits the Darwinian evolution theory.
Looking at the universe and Earth from an astronomer’s vantage point, brings other relevant factors into view, such as there was a beginning (science confirmed what Scripture recorded long ago).
Furthermore there is one example regarding life’s origin that is not focusing on intelligent design. Instead, the point highlighted here is the current answer to: “Can chemicals simply join together to make the origin of a living being?”
First, if the idea of life’s origin is a living single cell, then that might be simpler than life starting with a multicellular life form.
Second, an extensive answer to the question addresses the various chemicals needed for life’s many required functions, plus the properties of each type of chemical, conditions required to make such a chemical and then allow the chemical to persist—somehow come together— without degrading, and other factors.
Third, current proposals for chemicals to somehow all be produced at the same time and same place in natural settings run into complication factors that counter any practical answers to a chemical origin to life.
Significance: There appears to be no means to add chemicals in a laboratory test tube and see life arise. The idea that random chemicals in nature could gather together to then initiate life is even more remote—improbable, impossible. In fact, the current understanding of life’s origin cannot be possible simply by scientific research, evidence or understanding of chemicals.
The commentary on life’s probability is more a summary of other key points in this thesis area, including:
• extensive list of fine tuned factors making life possible,
• the fact that information is what makes an origin of life possible (but is complex and specific and hard to imagine from a random source)
• the improbability that specific proteins come by chance
• Causal circularity and Developmental Circuitry add complexity to any attempt to a simple explanation for life’s origin
• Body plans and types of life sudden appearances show without transition from one form to another.
Significance: Multiple sources of insight, data, evidence, observations, from science build ever more support for design in nature and unique origin.
Additional Evidence for Design
Today, many of these and other related issues are recognized in the back halls of science—but as yet rarely declared publicly. This hesitancy leads the pubic and students along a sustained line of assumptions, even when the data say otherwise.
Intelligent Design: Past to Present Day
There are critics who wish to deny intelligent design, but the notion of design in nature goes back to prior historical times, including a theological writing by William Paley in 1809: “Natural Theology: or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity.” Recent scientific evidence was in part gathered in response to Dr. Michael Denton’s very science-based book (published in the mid-1980s) entitled “Evolution—A Theory in Crisis.” The following decades accelerated scientific examination of various examples, led to descriptions of intelligent design in journals, books, and presentations at conferences.
The bottom line here is that evidence for intelligent design is now significant, growing more extensively, scientific, and provides support for what is also theological.
Next Steps:
Click on the Science Articles Full Listing button (throughout the Science Area) to see individual articles for this area.
An added page, Thesis Support, is provided with some additional more lengthy explanations, lines of logic, and information previously presented in the former Science Area Thesis page.
Reading the support page will cover many points that flow from many books and sources of information. This may take a bit of time to read but is comprehensive and well worth the read through.
Take a look if you like, but you might also take time to visit some of the Science Area articles or the Science Booklist page. The books listed there provide links to web pages where you can by a book, but also read reviews that are posted on that same page.
Next: Thesis Support Page or Science Articles
081224
