D1 The Origin of Life Mystery

According to evolution scientists (speculations), the universe came from nothing about 20 billion years ago; Earth is 4.6 billion years old, the continents are 2.5 billion years old and man evolved 3million years ago. (Creation ex nihilo 22(2):18-21) March 2000.)
The National Geographic Channel is perpetuating Darwinism with David Attenborough schooled in geology and zoology and a degree in natural sciences through the National Geographic Nature Documentary saying that the earth , the animals and the plants evolved over millions of years.

                1. Invitation to Discovery D-I-Y

                Life is a discovery journey every human being is endowed with from the conception in the mother’s womb to the end of life (death) in this world. We learn without realizing it through the experiences and knocks of living out life itself. We can go through life without bordering to know about the mysteries that could be explored but to follow the crowd in living the life as dealt by fate, rich or poor, in misery or in joy.    

                This is a D-I-Y internet discovery on the mystery of life. Some people wonder what life is about on the daunting reality that people are born, live and eventually die. Is it true that life is given for us to prepare for the new kingdom of heaven and that we are created by God? You will be given links to interesting and informative websites that you can review to give you knowledge that may broaden your understanding on the unveiling of truth that dispels conventional beliefs.

                 The first Discovery assignment is to review the status of Darwinian Theory of evolution based on the documentary available more than seven years ago on YouTube.  This is a very good starting point as the documentary is revolutionary and yet so important in freeing us from the lie about the origin of life. The pace is just perfect as a starter since we only need to spend no more than ten minutes at any one session. In any case when the topics become more intense, we can break it up into your own bite size.

                Discovery D1 Overview

                1.The conventional belief in Darwinian evolutionary theory (Darwinism- that life on earth evolved from nothing by chance (natural cause) many millions of years ago) since 1859 and perpetuated even now throughout science and the academic world is debunked scientifically.

                2. There is information in life in every living organism. There is no basis for information from natural cause. The inference from the existence of DNA in a cell points to the designer of the DNA. The universe is rational and comprehensible underwritten by a supreme intelligence that meant for this world to be understood. It cannot be a product of the mind (such as Darwinism). Intelligent Design has sparked intense debate over the origin of life on earth that requires scientists to redefine scientific thoughts adding information to matter and energy that testifies to the existence of a supreme creator- God. 

Contents

1.1 Unlocking the Mystery of Life Documentary: 1.1.1 Part 1 - Reexamination of Life’s Origin; 1.1.2 Part 2 – Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection; 1.1.3 Part 3- Microbiology of Bacterial Flagellum; 1.1.4 Part 4- Principle of Irreducible Complexity; 1.1.5 Part 5 – “Darwin’s Black Box”; 1.1.6 Part 6 - Darwin’s Tree of Life; 1.1.7 Part 7- Complexity in Proteins; 1.1.8 Part 8- The Language of Life- DNA; 1.1.9 Part 9- Rejection of Chemical Evolution; 1.1.10 - Part 10 Animation of Process within the Cell; 1.1.11 Part 11- “The Design Inference”; 1.1.12 Part 12- Theory of Intelligent Design; 1.2 Points to Ponder: 1.2.1 Discovery1 Insights; 1.2.2 Fresh Clues for Exploration.

                1.1 Unlocking the Mystery of Life Documentary

                 “Unlocking the Mystery of Life” is a documentary in twelve parts, uploaded on Dec 9, 2008, based upon the scholarly work of Stephen C. Meyer, Michael Bede, William Dembski and others. It provides a better alternative to the theory of evolution in explaining the origin of life being not scientific and that there is no basis to infer from it that the world evolved slowly over millions of years as the world is taught to embrace through the secular education system.

                 This video documentary presents a powerful but controversial idea—the theory of intelligent design. The scientific case for intelligent design is based upon recent discoveries in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, highlighted by computer animation that depicts the inner-workings of the living cell.

                1.1.1 Part 1 - Reexamination of Life’s Origin (5.44 minutes clip)

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWvS1UfXl8k- Pt 1- (5.44mins) The turning point in a new way of understanding the origin of life started in1993 with the gathering of scientists concerned about the scientific validity of the evolutionary theory. Michael C. Bede was motivated to relook at the evidence to see where it pointed. Stephen C. Meyer recognized that scientists were willing to face the fundamental question about the mystery of life origin. Where do we come from? What brought us into existence? What is our relationship to reality as a whole? What brought all the diversity of life into existence? Was it simply chance and necessity, simply undirected natural forces? Is there a purpose, a plan, a design due to intelligent cause?  They started to reexamine life’s origin.

                1.1.2 Part 2 – Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNCwCbpX-bc- Pt 2 (7:31mins) explains Darwinism and natural selection. In December 1831, Darwin joined the Beagle expedition as a gentleman naturalist and geologist that returned in 1835. Charles Darwin studied beak variation of finches on the Galapagos Islands as evidence of natural selection. Darwin continued to research and extensively revised his theory while focusing on his main work of publishing the scientific results of the Beagle voyage.[35] He tentatively wrote of his ideas to Lyell in January 1842;[37] then in June he roughed out a 35-page "Pencil Sketch" of his theory.[38] Darwin began correspondence about his theorising with the botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in January 1844, and by July had rounded out his "sketch" into a 230-page "Essay", to be expanded with his research results and published if he died prematurely. “On the Origin of Species“ was first published on Thursday 24 November 1859.  Its impact on science and ultimately all of Western culture was dramatic. Darwin argued that life was the product of purely undirected natural forces involving time, chance and a process he called natural selection. For 2500 years before Darwin most prominent scientists and philosophers such as Plato or Newton or Kepler view the world is the product of some unknown designer’s plan. But a fundamental shift occurs with Darwin’s ideas of natural selection and a real change in scientific philosophy is set in motion  Thus the new philosophy was set in motion based on his plausible naturalistic mechanism that could produce biological change over long periods of time. He cited the examples in differences in the sizes and shapes of the beaks of nine species of Finches he studied. This mechanism of adaptation over time fundamentally different organisms would arise without any form of intelligent guidance. Darwin explained everything in the history of life in terms of un­-designed, unintelligent natural processes. Today, Darwinism is generally assumed throughout science and the academic world. Yet despite its wide acceptance a growing number of scientists and scholars now challenge the Darwinian Theory concerning its role in biological explanation.  Natural selection works well in explaining certain limited kinds of variation with small scale change. It doesn’t explain the real complexities of life. Evidences are against natural selection concerning the origin and nature of life on earth. Amazingly there are a significant number of scientist who do not believe it but they are afraid to say anything.  It is still considered to be what is scientifically and politically correct. 

                1.1.3 Part 3- Microbiology of Bacterial Flagellum

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0_13SKarGI – Pt 3 (7:31mins)  1988 challenge in evidence from Bede – microbiology  of bacterial flagellum 50,000x  magnification (a 3mm ant= 60-storey HDB building)– example of engineering on a miniaturized scale considered the most efficient machine in the universe.

                1.1.4 Part 4- Principle of Irreducible Complexity

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-fJ91tIRh8 – Pt 4 (5:21mins) Principle of irreducible complexity challenges natural selection. The mouse trap is used to explain this principle. The irreducible complexity of molecular machines (cells) poses a severe challenge to the power of natural selection. According to Darwin’s theory even very complex biological structures like an eye, and ear or a heart can be built gradually over time in small incremental steps. Yet as Darwin made clear natural selection can only succeed if these random genetic changes provide some advantage to the evolving organism in its struggle for survival- “Natural selection is scrutinizing the slightest variations, rejecting those that are bad, preserving and adding up all that are good.” Then the development of the flagellum with all its components cannot occur out of a population of bacteria that don’t have that system when each change according to Darwin’s theory has to provide some kind of advantage. So natural selection cannot cause the bacterial flagellum. It can only work after the flagellum is there and operating.

                1.1.5 Part 5 – “Darwin’s Black Box”

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2hSXmyIOGY – Pt 5 (6:27mins) In 1996 Bede published “Darwin’s Black Box.” He argued that natural selection (Darwin’s designer substitute) could not explain the origin of the bacterial Flagellum, or any other irreducible complex biological system. He concluded that the integrated complexity of these systems is pointing to intelligent design. This book created great controversy. Over 75 publications including world’s leading newspapers reviewed his work. Some called it unscientific and religiously motivated. The orderly fabrication assembly in precise sequence involves other machines. Scott Minnich who studied the flagellum for over twenty years dispelled the critic’s suggestion of the co-option theory that involved the borrowing of parts from nothing.  Building a molecular machine is like the construction of a building. The building of a bacteria flagellum is explained.  Darwin had admitted his theory can break down- “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.”- Charles Darwin.

                1.1.6 Part 6 - Darwin’s Tree of Life

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKBrgYoS5Mc – Pt 6 (5:01mins) Stephen C. Meyer- philosophy of Biology raises questions: How do new living forms with wings and eyes originate when life already exists? How does life originate from non- living matter in the first place? Darwin’s explanation – History of diversity in life on earth analogous to branches of a tree, but the trunk’s origin (Protists) not explained. It was only his opinion given in a letter that a primitive cell might have emerged from simple chemicals in a primordial pond. Dean Kenyon, 1960-1980 leading chemical evolutionist try to explain through natural process. In 1969 co-authored book that gives possibilities of explaining the origin of life building elements.

                1.1.7 Part 7- Complexity in Proteins

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLfeDjjio8k – Pt7 (6:18mins) Complexity in Proteins, the basic and most important component in the elements of living cell.  Proteins have a wide range of functions in the cell, everything from structural requirements in terms of scaffolding of the cell, from cytoskeleton to enzymes where they are actually processing molecules to harvest energy or to build components of other cell proteins. Proteins do all the jobs inside the cell except for the storing of genetic information that is left to the DNA. By the 1960’s scientists have determined that even simple cells are made from different types of proteins. There are at least 30,000 types of proteins each made of a different combination of the same twenty amino acids. The function of protein is critically decided by amino acids arrangements to form a chain that folds into a certain three dimensional pattern. The assembly of the individual parts made of proteins to form the whole body depends upon the precise arrangements of the individual parts. Biochemical Predestination postulates - “Life might have been biochemically predestined by the properties of attraction that exist between its chemical parts, particularly between amino acids in proteins.” was then accepted for a while.

                1.1.8 Part 8- The Language of Life- DNA

                                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb6xdaC9hrM – Pt 8 (5:00mins) Kenyon five years later doubted his own theory when he could not counter argue how the first protein was assembled with genetic instruction. He admitted based on new evidence in biomolecular studies that amino acids does not on their own without pre-existing genetic material being present order themselves into any biological sequences. The DNA in the amino acids is the precise chemical code, densely packed and elaborately assembly of information ever known in the universe called the language of life. The chemical evolution theory is not true and the alternate is the challenge to search for the origin of genetic information.

                1.1.9 Part 9- Rejection of Chemical Evolution

                Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb2MsQKzZDI – Pt 9 (2:43) - By 1970 most scientists reject the origin of life by chance but some still hang on to natural selection. Natural selection could not have occurred before the occurrence of the first living cell. Without DNA there could not be self-replication. Without replication there could not be natural selection. Kenyon admitted that chemical evolution is impossible and the concept of original intelligent design is the most appropriate explanation and matches the multiple discoveries in biochemistry.

                1.1.10 - Part 10 Animation of Process within the Cell

                Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdBJt6sdDfI&index=10&list=PL9F238BF1EB056938 – Pt 10 (4:27mins) Animation of molecular realm of genetics information and processing working in a cell. DNA is the store house of every protein in an organism. There is the process of transcription  (starting with a machine to unwind the DNA to expose genetic instruction in the DNA and another machine to copy the right codes, translation, shaping and then placement of proteins. This bears the marks of an intelligent design that must have come from an external source, from the designer himself.

                1.1.11 Part 11- “The Design Inference”  

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfRdpTk1ysY&list=PL9F238BF1EB056938&index=11 – Pt 11 (9:43mins) “Science ought to be about the search for the truth of the world not prejudge on what might be the truth by personal preference” –Paul Nelson. Bring every possible cause that might explain any puzzle. Natural selection rules out intelligent design invoking convention of only methodological naturalism- limiting explanation that invokes only natural causes. This is contradictory to practice in archaeology- intelligence effects in hieroglyphic messages carved in Egyptian monuments, stone figures on Easter Island not formed by winds and rain over long periods of time. “The Design Inference” by William Dembski provides scientific criteria for deciding on whether something is designed based on recognizable pattern. Small probability and specification are equivalent to information. The search for extraterritorial life is based on analysis of information with objective pattern to show intelligence monitored from radio signals from other space which so far is negative, But within the nucleus of the living cell is a wealth of information residing in the DNA. A full complement of human DNA has three billion individual characters. Analysis of the DNA molecules coding regions show that its chemical characters have a specific arrangement that allows them to convey detailed instructions or information, much like letters in a meaningful sentence or binary digits in a computer code. DNA has the structure that carries the information in the A-C-T-G Information system like in computer programs that involve intelligent design. There is information in life in every living organism. Where in the cell does the information come from?

                1.1.12 Part 12- Theory of Intelligent Design

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgs96c_XklA&list=PL9F238BF1EB056938&index=12 – Pt12 (5:39mins)  Steven Meyer  worked for past 15 years  since 1993 to explains that intelligent design is necessary to build the first living cell the best answer to the origin of life. We know there is no basis for information from natural cause. The inference from the existence of DNA in a cell points to the designer of the DNA. The theory of intelligent design leave evidence of the existence of a designer in everything exhibiting evidence of information based on observation of the facts; of interrelated complexity like in the flagella. Design is the most likely explanation. The universe is rational and comprehensible underwritten by a supreme intelligence that meant for this world to be understood. It cannot be a product of the mind. It makes sense when we look at the world. 150 years ago Darwin transforms science with his theory of evolution. Intelligent Design has sparked intense debate over the origin of life on earth that requires scientist to redefine scientific thoughts adding information to matter and energy that testifies to the existence of a supreme creator- God.

                1.2 Points to Ponder

                Under this subheading is set out the summary of the things we discovered in each discovery journey. Some of the information may be new (perhaps to you) that may warrant pondering over with an open mind to assess, research further, and then to adjust your set of beliefs (paradigm) accordingly.  The belief based on the truth is vital as we will explore later that belief controls our perception of reality which controls our behaviour.

                New clues will be discerned that will direct our next and subsequent discovery assignments.

                1.2.1 Discovery1 Insights

                - The quest for the truth brought the gathering of scientists in 1993 concerned about the scientific validity of Darwinian evolutionary theory; the conventional belief (scientifically validated) since 1859. In fact even now Darwinism is generally assumed throughout science and the academic world.

                - Charles Darwin studied beak variation of finches on the Galapagos Islands (1832-1835 expedition) as evidence of natural selection. The 35-page "Pencil Sketch" of his theory in 1842, became a 230-page "Essay" with his research results by July 1844. “On the Origin of Species“ was first published on Thursday 24 November 1859. For 2500 years before Darwin most prominent scientists and philosophers from Plato to Kepler view the world as the product of some unknown designer’s plan. Darwin argued that life was the product of purely undirected natural forces involving time, chance and a process he called natural selection. Its impact on science and ultimately all of Western culture was dramatic. The new philosophy was set in motion based on his plausible naturalistic mechanism that could produce biological change over long periods of time. He cited the examples in differences in the sizes and shapes of the beaks of nine species of Finches he studied. Darwin explained everything in the history of life in terms of un­-designed, unintelligent natural processes.

                - According to Darwin, the history of diversity in life on earth was analogous to branches of a tree, but the trunk’s origin (protists) was not explained. Only an opinion was given in a letter that a primitive cell might have emerged from simple chemicals in a primordial pond. Dean Kenyon (1960-1980), leading chemical evolutionist tried to explain through natural process. In 1969 co-authored book gave possibilities of explaining the origin of life building elements.

                - The irreducible complexity of molecular machines (cells) in the evidence from Bede’s study on the bacterial flagellum posed a severe challenge to the power of natural selection. According to Darwin’s theory even very complex biological structures like an eye, and ear or a heart can be built gradually over time in small incremental steps. Yet as Darwin made clear natural selection can only succeed if these random genetic changes provide some advantage to the evolving organism in its struggle for survival. Darwin had admitted his theory can break down- “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.”

                - By the 1960’s scientists have determined that even simple cells are made from different types of proteins. Protein is the basic and most important component in the element of a living cell. Proteins have a wide range of functions in the cell, everything from structural requirements in terms of scaffolding of the cell, from cytoskeleton to enzymes where they are actually processing molecules to harvest energy or to build components of other cell proteins. Proteins do all the jobs inside the cell except for the storing of genetic information that is left to the DNA. The function of protein is critically decided by amino acids arrangements to form a chain that folds into a certain three dimensional pattern. The amino acids does not on their own without pre-existing genetic material being present order themselves into any biological sequences. The DNA in the amino acids is the precise chemical code, densely packed and elaborately assembly of information ever known in the universe called the language of life. Natural selection could not have occurred before the occurrence of the first living cell. Without DNA there could not be self-replication. Without replication there could not be natural selection. Kenyon admitted that chemical evolution is impossible and the concept of original intelligent design is the most appropriate explanation and matches the multiple discoveries in biochemistry.

                - “Science ought to be about the search for the truth of the world not prejudged on what might be the truth by personal preference” –Paul Nelson. Every possible cause are to be sought that might explain any puzzle. Natural selection rules out intelligent design invoking convention of only methodological naturalism- limiting explanation that invokes only natural causes.

                - “The Design Inference” by William Dembski provides scientific criteria for deciding on whether something is designed based on recognizable pattern. Small probability and specification are equivalent to information. A full complement of human DNA has three billion individual characters. Analysis of the DNA molecules coding regions show that its chemical characters have a specific arrangement that allows them to convey detailed instructions or information, much like letters in a meaningful sentence or binary digits in a computer code. DNA has the structure that carries the information in the A-C-T-G Information system like in computer programs that involve intelligent design. There is information in life in every living organism. There is no basis for information from natural cause. The inference from the existence of DNA in a cell points to the designer of the DNA. The theory of intelligent design leave evidence of the existence of a designer in everything exhibiting evidence of information based on observation of the facts; of interrelated complexity like in the flagella. Design is the most likely explanation. The universe is rational and comprehensible underwritten by a supreme intelligence that meant for this world to be understood. It cannot be a product of the mind. Intelligent Design has sparked intense debate over the origin of life on earth that requires scientists to redefine scientific thoughts adding information to matter and energy that testifies to the existence of a supreme creator- God.

                1.2.2 Fresh Clues for Exploration

                The insights outlined have raised fresh areas for investigation. They are as follows:

                1. The fact that even now Darwinism is generally assumed throughout science and the academic world prompted the need to probe further to find out if there are hidden agendas involved. 

                2. As the postmodern secular world is mired in truth being relative, the understanding on the principle of truth being absolute needs to be looked into. 

                3. To look into the issues on the belief in the existence of God.

                4. To understand how belief controls perception that governs behaviour. 

                5. To learn more about proteins with respect to our eating habits and lifestyle.      

                These are the main topics that will be investigated, one by one, in acquiring truths that are waiting to be discovered for those who will diligently search for them. There will be other side topics that you may personally to impressed to also look into by using the same internet (google) search method on your own.              

                1.3 Discovery Souvenir

                1.The conventional belief in Darwinian evolutionary theory (Darwinism- that life on earth evolved from nothing by chance (natural cause) many millions of years ago) since 1859 and perpetuated even now throughout science and the academic world is debunked scientifically.

                2. There is information in life in every living organism. There is no basis for information from natural cause. The inference from the existence of DNA in a cell points to the designer of the DNA. The universe is rational and comprehensible underwritten by a supreme intelligence that meant for this world to be understood. It cannot be a product of the mind (such as Darwinism). Intelligent Design has sparked intense debate over the origin of life on earth that requires scientists to redefine scientific thoughts adding information to matter and energy that testifies to the existence of a supreme creator- God.             

                (Add any additional thoughts that you may have acquired)    (End of D1- 7 pages.)

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