Re: [asa] Origins: Francis Collins and ID

Hi Bernie,

You might like to know that what David has stated was somewhat known at the
time of Darwin, who argued against Paley's claim that "the eye was a sure
cure for atheism". Rudimentary eyes were known in the 19th century, and
today we see this more clearly. [I'm tyring to improve my puns, but having
little sucess.]

David said: "We manage with a lot fewer colors than some birds."
Indeed, they posses four color cones to our three. Further, the
responsiveness for each of the bird's cones do not overlap the spectral
range of the other cones, at least not the few graphs I've seen. Our color
cones overalap which complicates color determination. Perhaps our brains do
a better job than the birds at coloration, but I do not know if this has
been established. Regardless the birds have the advantage.

Whitetail deer only have two color cones, but one cone gives them the
ability to see some UV, violet, and faint blue better than we can. [Keep
this in mind when sneaking into a deer blind before sunrise; they are
probably watching us all the way up.] Their larger aperature also gives
them greater ability to see in dimmer light than we can.

Assuming you are experienced in programing, there is likely a very good
analogy that will help you understand evolution's developmental strength. I
doubt this attempt will be all the good, but allow me to try....

Imagine starting with a 10 line algorithym that had some functional ability.
Combine this with a thousand other small algorithyms and if any combination
has improved functional use, then keep it. Let the larger, combined ones
attach to both larger and smaller ones. If any of these have a functional
use, keep them. Allow variations in each line of code so that they get
tried and tested, too. How large of a program can come from this process
that builds upon itself?

The important element is what determines if a program has "functional use".
Life is the name for that program and natural selection, with branching, is
the descriptive process.

Hopefully, you or another can offer a superior analogy, but I hope you see
the power from building up from a low form to a higher form. This process
comes at a price as there is much failure and energy is required at every
point along the way. Fortunately, the white Sun does a nice job of
providing most of the energy needed. [Radioactivity is the energy source
for some deep, oceanic organisms.]

GeorgeA

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> Dr. David Campbell
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> University of Alabama
> "I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"
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Received on Mon Dec 3 18:05:16 2007