irreducible complexity

Now that I have set up camp in the town of my origin, every time I drive from Mom and Dad's place into town, I see the little square brick home of my high school science teacher. And every time I see it, I think about parking on the street, making my way to the front door, knocking, and hopefully being able to have a good little chat.

Mr. R had both of my parents in High School and when time rolled around for me to sign up for my freshmen classes, my parents insisted that I sign up for Advanced Biology. I did not want to...not under any circumstances...even if it was better for my college applications. But that was a battle I did not stand a chance of winning, so I signed up. It turned out that not only was I in Advanced Bio first semester, but it was my very first class of the day. I remember how all of the excitement over High School and new lockers and old friends was instantly quenched as I walked into the Mr. R's room. Dirty looking flasks of all sizes were littered around the room and bunson burners were spread out somewhat evenly across the tables. His desk was a mound of papers taller than me and I remember thinking 'its the FIRST day of school, where did all of that come from?' And then he entered the room, maybe five minutes after the bell had wrung, looking dishevled as ever, coffee in hand.

Did I mention he looks like the perfect cross between Gene Wilder (think Willy Wonka) and Bob Dylan???

In the middle of all of my hating on my parents and science and the beginning of stupid High School, Mr. R rolled out a TV on a cart, popped in a movie, and pressed play without a word. That morning we watched The Dead Poet's Society. He didn't hand out a syllabus; he didn't even take attendance.

I was inspired.

Over the next four years of my life, science went from being a subject I dreaded to one I salivated over. I took (literally) ever single science class offered (Microbiology, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, River Ecosystems, Anatomy, Human Genetics, Evolutionary Theory, etc etc) I probably spent as much time with Mr. R as anyone else during those years. He was always late, always coming in with a cup of McDonald's coffee in hand. Many times the office would call down and we'd cover for him and say he was in the restroom until he finally arrived. His curly hair grew outward by the day until on fridays he really did look like a mad scientist. He warmed his coffee up on the bunson burners, gave tests whose preparation kept me up nights on end (and he gave you the questions in advance), and he loved Bob Dylan. By the time I graduated, I knew every Bob Dylan song by heart. I often saw him more than once a day for class and several nights a week I worked in the lab on my science fair project. I had tons of respect for Mr R and it would be fair to say he and I became friends.

And yes, I did just say science fair project.

I know, you thought that was just something elementary kids did to find out which detergent works out best or something lame like that. Not so.

I had the same project for four years, although it evolved and changed as I learned more. I competed in local, district, state, and national fairs and my project was responsible for my being able to pay for college (which I am thankful for, no matter how nerdy it made me!). The name of my project? "The Evolution and Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance in the Mitocondrial DNA of Isolated Soil Microbes" although, to be fair, that first year I think it was "Antibitotic Resistance in Microbes"

I went to college, thinking I was going to be a Genetic Counselor...I changed my mind about that (its a lot of counseling pregnant women about the defects in their baby...I decided that wasn't for me after all) but I have always loved science.

My affection for scientific knowledge and discovery and mystery did not exactly earn me a comfortable position with the Christians in my school as you might have well imagined. (On more than one occasion I was told I was going to hell for even considering the possibility of evolution) Things to me that did not seem mutually exclusive (like the Bible and evolutionary theory) proved to be topics others didn't want to put into the same framework. I didn't see the inconsistencies. I read my Bible, loved God, and at the same time was intrigued with the natural world that so clearly bore his fingerprint. While others accused Mr R of everything from promoting atheism (he wasn't an atheist- not that anyone asked) to being behind the "force" that apparently caused all things evil (I guess I thought we were born into sin? Perhaps God forgot to mention that sin would be born along with the theory of a bird-watcher named Darwin?) I found him to be a good friend, wise soul, and a heroic educator.

I used to argue with people alot about the original language of the Bible, the discrepencies between Genesis chapter one and chapter two, the tenants of science, what Darwin actually said (few have read his writings), and the implications of different perspectives. I don't argue anymore. I just sort of develop a tick when people start talking about Darwin and monkeys in the same sentence.

Few people understand this like aunt Deb, who is by the way,EXPONENTIALLY, ridiculously smarter than I am. I am trying to force her to start a blog because you all would love her thoughts...and we'd all learn something too...and because she should write a book, but I am afraid she won't get to it.

Anyway, Aunt Deb brought over a DVD for me called "Unlocking the Mystery of Life". I loved it.

I have been gabbing and gabbing about all of this just so I could have some context to tell you about it this B hour long educational DVD. Its true.

I was fascinated.

Maybe you don't like science or wonder about the origin of life but I still bet you would think it as fascinating as I did.

To get to the mind-blowing, there-must-have-been-a-Creator-coolness we might have to have a small little science lesson. I know its Saturday morning, but can you go there with me? I promise it will be worth it. And I promise it will be quick.

Come on..you know you want to... *grin*

Ok...contrary to a lot of what you have heard, Darwin did not say we came from apes. He talked mostly about finches, as a matter of fact. He went to the Galapogos Islands and began to journal about the variations in the animals he saw there. As a naturalist, Darwin tried to explain what he saw and in the process came up with the theory of natural selection, which basically says that genetic variations are selected for if and ONLY if they give the organism an advantage in terms of survival. Its a good thought, really. It definitely explained why the finch population had different sizes and shapes of beaks during seasons of drought and seasons of rain.

Natural selection is one of the main tenants of current evolutionary theory. And while it does go a long way to explaining the variety in nature, I don't think anyone really denies that in light of new technology that has allowed scientists to see things Darwin never could have dreamed of (think DNA) that natural selection cannot fully explain the origin of life.

Let me explain...

Darwin supposed that his theory of natural selection COULD explain how life began... that perhaps things randomly combined until something arose that was advantageous and ka-boom! its the beginning of life. Darwin stated that it was possible his explanation might be over-simplified and even gave certain perameters that would nullify natural selection as a viable explanation about the origin of life.

It turns out that Darwin was right. Natural selection is over simplified. Its a good theory. It goes a long way toward explaining variation...but it cannot explain the Origin of Life.

On the DVD the scientists (none of whom are admitted Christians and none of whom are Creation 'scientists') point out THE new discovery that has led to them to understand there must be a Designer.

What is the discovery?

Irreducible Complexity.

In every cell of your body, things are moving from place to place...the vital information your cells need to reproduce is moved into the nucleus of the cell where it can be transcribed and recombined...and the vehicle that the information is moved in is powered by an amazing little natural machine called a flagellum. The flagellum is a machine not unlike the motor of a small boat...it looks like a slender whip projecting from the cell and is responsible for mobility. It is comprised of eight parts (proteins), all that are essential to the functioning of the flagellum. If even one peice of the flagellum motor is absent or broken, the DNA cannot be moved into the cell, the cell cannot reproduce, and basically: there can be no life. If you have taken a biology class in the last ten or so years, you have seen undoubtibly seen a highly magnified photo of a flagellum.

But just in case you haven't taken biology in the last ten years or did but can't remember what I am talking about, here you go...

Here's the traditional photo:


And here's a newer illustration of what is now known about this amazing, super important, microscopic machine:


So what's so great about this eight protein propelling machine? What is so enlightening about it that these scientists would by it come to believe that the origin of life was put into motion by a Designer (don't you love that term?)? Well, its like this friends...

No life could exist without flagellum..not even one single cell...and in order for the flagellum to function, all eight parts must be present. Thus, the flagellum represents something complex which cannot be reduced. The chances that all eight proteins would assemble randomly and in the correct, very precise order? I would say slim to none, but in all actuality, the answer is that it is impossible. And the theory of natural selection would suppose that the machine would have arisen from the proteins (over time) combining randomly until something advantageous came about and was built upon, BUT because there is nothing advantageous about the flagellum until ALL eight proteins are rightly ordered into this highly efficient machine,and because the chances of that happening randomly are next door to 'not in a gazillion years', natural selection falls short.

So the questions began to intensify... If natural selection is unable to explain the origin of life, what does? And if there is this irreducible complexity, how did it come about? Can random evolution explain it or is it necessary to consider a Designer?

One of the lead scientists stated on the DVD that there are two main criteria for deciding whether or not something is intentionally designed.... One, the phenomenon must be something that does not naturally occur and Two, it most represent something that can be found elsewhere. He used a good example to give hands and feet to this idea: Mount Rushmore. While rock is often shaped over time naturally, faces do not occur in rock over time. And we can be sure that the faces of past presidents carved into rock was designed because they are recognizable in our culture elsewhere. Therefore, Someone decided to create what we see...and the creation has recognizable significance as well as a property that allows us to infer certain things about the designer.

The idea of irreducible complexity lends itself to notion of a Designer. We know, by the very nature of its irreducibility, that the flagellum machine did not randomly assemble...it had no purpose in being built unless each peice was placed together in a meaningful way on purpose.

And ta da! Now we have to deal with the possibility of a Designer. Someone who in fact did build that extemely efficient and tiny motor, with all eight proteins, for a specific purpose...

I was so happy after watching the DVD, I wanted to dance a little jig in the living room. I really did. I wanted to tell someone that seeking Truth in any vein of understanding (if you are really looking for Truth) will eventually always lead you to a very real Someone...a Creator...a Purposer...a Designer. I wanted to scream that science and God-loving belong in the same framework.... I wanted to call up a couple of old classmates and tell them that I am fairly certain I am not going to hell for my time wondering about the way life has been spun (okay...just kidding...I only entertained that thought for one milisecond)...

But I really did want to get in my car, drive to Mr R's house, and talk about irreducible complexity and the very real possibility of a Purposing God...One who would not only be interested in creating tiny, efficient little propellers, but also the mobility of thoughts and emotions in the human soul. I wanted to drink some McDonalds coffee and listen to some Dylan with him and let him know that I still think God likes him and that perhaps scientists (like him) and Christians (like me) have a lot more in common than we'd often care to admit.

And maybe I just will.