Dr. Pitman, I pointed readers to the recent and totally …

Comment on Dr. Jason Rosenhouse “Among the Creationists” by Harold A..

Dr. Pitman, I pointed readers to the recent and totally unexpected research demonstrating that genomes can change substantially with a mere change in temperature. No one predicted that. Here again is the story, but at another website which offers more detail:

http://www.sciencenewsline.com/articles/2013060519430066.html

You responded by stating that you fail to see the relevance to the question of how novel protein-based systems can be produced beyond very low levels of functional complexity by any kind of mindless mechanism. Genomes, of course, produce the proteins that interact with the environment. If new, beneficial protein systems can result within a few weeks or months time due to a mere temperature change, and within a single generation, who are YOU to proclaim that more substantial changes cannot occur in trillions upon trillions of years? You can only do so by claiming you have full understanding of the factors that influence genome changes. And neither you nor the published models you cite could possibly possess full understanding.

Harold A. Also Commented

Dr. Jason Rosenhouse “Among the Creationists”

Dr. Pitman, you also wrote, “The question is, what seems to be most likely true given what we currently know? Which hypothesis, among the competing options, carries the best predictive value? Anyone with any solid opinion at all on any topic must take on a just a little chutzpah as well as the risk of failure – of being wrong.”

Most scientists I know personally are content to say they lean one or the other on an opinion without locking themselves into it, particularly when a hypothesis has very limited empirical support. Many creationists in the past locked onto promising hypotheses, displaying the very chutzpah you seem to admire, only to embarrass themselves later when their hypotheses proved so very wrong. Those who refuse to learn from history will repeat it.


Dr. Jason Rosenhouse “Among the Creationists”
This website features debates by those who seem convicted that only one side has all the right cards. The simple reality is that there is much we don’t understand. We can use genetics models and state-of-the-art science to buttress our arguments, but we err when we make sweeping, arrogant statements that dismiss the other side.

Here are the latest eye-popping findings that should prompt us to question how well we understand the limits and constraints of genetic change and evolution:

http://discovermagazine.com/2014/jan-feb/100-genomes-change-with-temperature

Neither of our highly-trained genetics experts, Dr. Cameron or Dr. Pitman, could have predicted these findings. Humility is always a good thing.