Behe Evolves

June 11th, 2008 midwifetoad Posted in News |

A few days ago we reported on a major new paper dealing with the results of a twenty year laboratory experiment in evolution. During the course of 30,000 generations of E.coli bacteria, a new and significant trait evolved, the ability to use the citrate found in the culture medium as a food source.

Comments are beginning to roll in. Car Zimmer has a rather complete description of the experiment. Pharyngula has a lengthy commentary, which is cross posted at Panda’s Thumb.

But the most amusing comment comes from Michael Behe, whose Book, The Edge of Evolution argues that traits requiring two or more coordinated mutations are beyond the power of Darwinian evolution. Behe reposts his blog at Uncommon Descent, wisely hiding behind the pseudonym “Patrick.”

Here we find the breathtaking statement:

If the development of many of the features of the cell required multiple mutations during the course of evolution, then the cell is beyond Darwinian explanation. I show in The Edge of Evolution that it is very reasonable to conclude they did.

We must pause to remind ourselves that the experiment under discussion demonstrates the evolution of a trait requiring three successive mutations. Behe appears to be arguing that the observed phenomenon cannot be explained by “Darwnism.” So how does he explain the result? [Silence]

It is possible that Behe thinks that “Darwinism” requires that every mutation leading to a beneficial trait must by itself be beneficial. Perhaps the tenured professor of Biology has been asleep for the last fifty years. Is he arguing that neutral or weakly beneficial mutions are inserted by the Designer in anticipation of future need? Is this the long held secret Theory of Intelligent Design?

At any rate the comments at Uncommon Descent seem to fall along traditional lines.

1. Phenomenon X is impossible, or so extremely unlikely that it is essentially impossible.
2. It is claimed that phenomenon X has been observed, but it is really just a trivial subset of X
3. Of course X occurs. I said so all along, and it proves my point.

UPDATE: here’s a wonderful blog containing a massive list of reviews of Behe’s Edge of Evolution.