The $5,000,000 ID Research Challenge

I would spend the $5M on researching the software in our cells. My "conjecture": The source cited below states that there may be as many as 10,000 types of proteins in a cell -- Scientists estimate that each of your cells contains about 10 billion protein molecules of approximately 10,000 different varieties. SOURCE: National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Inside the Cell Chapter 2 Cells 101: Business Basics by Alison Davis --. Each of these proteins is unique in structure and each have a role to play in the cell. It appears that the structure determines the role. This role is akin to software. I suggest that the protein’s hardware (structure) determines its software (role in the cell) — and that software could not have originated spontaneously, it had to be programmed into the hardware. In effect, the hardware is the software.

The chemistry behind protein synthesis is fairly well understood, and it does happen spontaneously.

If the hardware could have originated spontaneously - and we have no reason to think it couldn't - then the "software" would have automatically originated at the same tme.So what do you actually want to do with the research grant?Edited by ringo, : Splling.

Welcome to the fray Jackal32, This statement does not follow logically from your argument, but seems to be just an opinion placed as if it were a conclusion.On the other hand we can see that many different proteins are involved, and we also see that selection is a systematic process that eliminates processes that don't benefit the survival and reproduction of the individual, thus resulting in a "spontaneous" (if that word can be used to cover multiple generations) selection of those systems that produce beneficial proteins. In a cell structure that has been subject to evolution for over 3.5 billion years. You are looking at a result of a whole lot of selection, not a suddenly new product. In what way? In the way it is being studied in microbiology or some new process of investigation?Enjoy

Apart from anything else, your use of the words hardware and software are just bizarre even as metaphors. No, the role of a protein in a cell is not "akin to software".

Jackal32,
First, welcome. You will learn a lot here, while feeling like you are swimming upstream if you debate against evolutionary theory Dr. Adequate is the resident sarcasm expert. Think of the two older guys in the balcony on the muppet show

No, mram, sarcasm would have been if I'd said something like "What an excellent metaphor you have chosen! Yes, if the protein is akin to hardware then its role in the cell must be akin to software, just as the role of a computer in a factory is akin to software --- rather than, for example, its software being akin to software, as naive and ignorant people might have supposed. Thank you for enlightening us with your mighty creationist wisdom."

Coyote,
I almost thought you were describing the secular science community and their attachment to Darwinism and the theory of evolution. Maybe both sides can put away their love/hate of God and look for truth.Tesla,
Where are you? I really enjoyed reading your posts. Keep them coming.Edited by mram10, : No reason given.

"Almost thought" is an excellent description of what you did.

I enjoy your comments that add absolutely nothing to the conversation I have worked with individuals that like to hear themselves spew vitriol, while adding absolutely nothing of value. Maybe because they feel "inadequate" Edited by mram10, : No reason given.

Thank you for your demonstration of how to add something to the conversation without spewing vitriol, wait, I'll read that again, your demonstration of shameless hypocrisy.In your past few posts, you've called NoNukes a "fool" for saying something which you had in fact made up in your head; told me that you were "beginning to question [my] sanity" because I made a simple point which you were too dumb to understand, and addressed jar, a Christian, as follows: So let's have no more prissy whining out of you if others also descend to the occasional jibe. It just makes you look like a thin-skinned hypocrite. Edited by Dr Adequate, : No reason given.

Hey Jackal32, It seems as if you are a one post wonder, but I'll make a quick comment.How would your research differ from what current scientists are doing with protein structure/function? And how could a measly $5 million get you anywhere with such a huge project? Yes, structure plays a significant role in function. It is not the whole of the story, but it is significant.This statement doesn't follow from your previous one. Software determines the role that the hardware plays. The same hardware can be used for different purposes depending on what software is loaded. The hardware/software concept is a poor analogy in this case.I suspect that you heard this concept somewhere and got confused as to how to apply it.HBD

I know what you are saying here, but to be fair, protein synthesis is a highly regulated process and to say "it happens spontaneously" ... just seems wrong to me.HBD

I would turn this around on you and ask what have you added to the conversation?HBD

You really should learn what words mean before you use them. It is very easy. There are things called dictionaries. Also, a thesaurus might be a big help to.