Top 10 Darwin vs. Design News Stories for 2006

One of the most disturbing features of contemporary American life is the degree to which science, which should be based on evidence and repeatable experiments, has been taken over by political correctness. One puts one's livelihood and social standing at risk even to raise questions about any aspect of manmade, global-warming alarmism, or about innate differences between the sexes, or about Darwinism (macroevolution) - to name just three areas. Despite this, some brave and distinguished scientists (like Dr. Michael Behe, for example) continue to point out some of the fraudulent evidence, faulty logic and absence of proof of macroevolutionary theory. They are also working actively to determine if an alternative theory, called Intelligent Design, can ever be proven. The following developments this year have some bearing on these matters:

Colorado Springs, CO (Dec 27, 2006) – Following are the Top 10 Darwin vs. Design news stories from around the world for 2006 as selected by the News Staff at Access Research Network.

Heidelberg, Germany – Molecular Machines in Baker’s Yeast Mapped Out. In January researchers in Germany announced they finished the first complete analysis of the "molecular machines" in one of biology's most important model organisms: S. cerevisiae (baker's yeast). The study was conducted by the biotechnology company Cellzome, in collaboration with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). According to Giulio Superti-Furga: "If you think of the cell as a factory floor, up to now, we've known some of the components of a fraction of the machines. That has seriously limited what we know about how cells work. This study gives us a nearly complete parts list of all the machines, and it goes beyond that to tell us how they populate the cell and partition tasks among themselves."

Clearwater, FL – 60% of U.S. Medical Doctors Doubt Macroevolutionary Theory. A recent poll indicated that 60 percent of the medical doctors in the US have serious doubts about the veracity of the macroevolutionary theory as taught in universities today. A new venue is available to give voice to this powerful flow of skeptical thought in the world of medicine, and to promote accurate knowledge and free exchange of ideas concerning the debate over Darwinism and alternative theories of origin: Physicians and Surgeons for Scientific Integrity.

New York, NY – Degree of Gene Complexity Not Anticipated. From a news feature in Nature for May 25, 2006: "Gene" was the only concept in evolutionary theory that seemed to have a clear definition (compare with species, speciation, selection, fitness, etc.). Now the definition is being attacked as "a crude approximation" and scientists say "The degree of complexity we've seen was not anticipated."

Seattle, WA – Over 600 Scientists Express Skepticism of Darwinian Evolution. As of June 2006 over 600 doctoral scientists from around the world have now signed a statement publicly expressing their skepticism about the contemporary theory of Darwinian evolution. The statement, located online at www.dissentfromdarwin.org, reads: “We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.”

Australia – Fly Eye Important Blueprint for Creating Better Video Systems. Australian researchers reported that the pesky fly's eyes hold an important blueprint for creating better video cameras, military target-detection systems, and surveillance equipment. Flies can spot movementin shadows and see moving objects against interference-filled backgrounds. Russell Brinkworth, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Adelaide, devised software that sees the same way a fly does.

United Kingdom – Darwin Vs. Design Debate Escalates in the UK. In September a group of academics, scientists and clerics, called ‘Truth in Science’ cause an uproar in the UK as they distributed information packs on intelligent design to 5,000 secondary schools. Many educators praised the move, while politicians quickly moved to block use of the materials in schools.

Brussels, Belgium – Europeans Question the Value of Teaching Macroevolution. Polish member of the European Parliament, Maciej Giertych, retired head of the Genetics Department of the Polish Academy of Science, introduced a public seminar on the General Theory of Evolution to fellow MEP's in October. Professor Giertych questioned the value of teaching a continually falsified hypothesis - macroevolution - to students throughout Europe, as well as pointing out its lack of usefulness in regard to scientific endeavor.

Washington, DC – Government Report Finds Smithsonian Staff Guilty of Persecution. The demotion of a well-published evolutionary biologist critical of Darwinian evolution was found to be religiously and politically motivated, according to a new government report. In December the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform released a staff report detailing the persecution of Dr. Richard Sternberg, whose civil and constitutional rights were violated by Smithsonian officials when he published a peer-reviewed article by Dr. Stephen Meyer criticizing Darwinian evolution and supporting intelligent design.

Seattle, WA – Federal Judge Copies ACLU Brief in Key Intelligent Design Court Case. In December, as the one year anniversary of the Kitzmiller v. Dover court decision on intelligent design rolls around, a study is released by scholars at Discovery Institute showing that Judge Jones copied over 90% of the key section of the decision from an ACLU brief, including numerous errors of fact that contradicted testimony presented at the trial.

Redmond, WA – Scientists Conduct New Research Using Intelligent Design Theory. In December the New Scientist reported on the Biologic Institute with research facilities in Redmond and Fremont where scientists are conducting biological research from an intelligent design framework that they hope will lead to new scientific knowledge and better science.

These stories and many more about the Darwin vs. Design debate can be found on the Access Research Network website www.arn.org.
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Access Research Network is a 501(c)3 scientific and educational organization dedicated to providing accessible information on science, technology and society issues from an intelligent design perspective.

The continuing discoveries of cell complexity and cell workings are important not only to the possibility of establishing ID principles, but also to further undermining Darwinian arguments based on cell simplicity and also on the simplicity of light-sensitive spots - both now known to be incredibly complex. For example, when Darwinists are asked to explain how an eye can possibly have evolved, they always answer by referring to computer models that begin with a light-sensitive spot. Added by Russ Wilcox.