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John Bracht is a graduate of New Mexico Tech and is preparing to begin his doctoral studies in cell biology. In addition to studying complex systems and design theory, he is currently working as managing editor for Progress in Complexity, Information, and Design, the journal of the International Society for Complexity, Information, and Design (ISCID). John has also written for the Templeton Foundation's Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology and the American Scientific Affiliation journal Perspectives (in press). |
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The Bacterial Flagellum: A Response to Ursula Goodenough
"The bottom line is that the flagellum consists of a tightly-integrated system in which scientists have discerned essential functions for each of the components. Experimental knock-out experiments have shown that eliminating any of these flagellum proteins results in a nonfunctional machine. My argument (in my previous essay) was that this functional holism, the fact that each protein is required for function, poses a strong challenge to Darwinian explanation. All the unique, functional components would have to come together in a single step (whether the proteins spring up brand-new, are co-opted from pre-existing systems, or arise from gene duplication), falling together at the same instant, to achieve selectable function and be preserved. Given what we know about the bacterial flagellum and the engineering constraints upon the system, this would appear to be a compelling argument."
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Knotty Pine and Corroding Coins
"Tthe Darwinian mechanism is extremely information-poor and relies upon chance to produce its information in small bits, by gradual steps. The problem comes when we find biological systems that cannot be assembled by gradually adding tiny bits of information and require instead multiple coordinated changes before selectable advantage arises. These sorts of biological structures require large amounts of information be generated in a single step. This is the key problem facing a Darwinian explanation, and is the reason why some doubt the efficacy of natural selection in producing these systems."
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