The Reasonable Suspicion

Last weekend, I discussed the role of metaphors and I would like to extend one of the points from that essay.

I wrote:

Using this example, the “metaphors” are not in any way intended as documentation “with photographic evidence.” No, they function instead as “a few things” that might cause us to suspect design. It is something that flows naturally from a hypothesis of design and arouses and/or deepens suspicion in some of us.

What do I mean when saying it is “something that flows naturally from a hypothesis of design and arouses and/or deepens suspicion in some of us?”

Ordered Evolution

In the Design Matrix, I wrote, “Molecular properties, which can be designed, may serve to “guide” organismal evolution more than appreciated. In this case, the properties of designed proteins in bacteria have channeled evolution such that this three-component gas exchange would eventually emerge in a mammal-like creature and function as it does. The design of a protein may have front-loaded the appearance of a particular type of organ system that handled gas delivery and exchange.”

The basic idea here is that tissues, organs, and even organ systems can be viewed as the emergent expression of key macromolecules. Such macromolecules can serve as “bait” that would lure certain expressions of evolved complexity. All of this would speak to evolution being under some form of intrinsic guidance.

What’s more, during the summer of 2008, I wrote a series of essays for the old book blog (that was hacked) that highlighted the evidence which suggested that the vertebrate endocrine system could have been front-loaded into protozoa (for example, human insulin triggers a biological response in Tetrahymena).

Well, along comes a study that moves toward both of these points.