Is There Design in Nature?–by L. James Gibson

Can we detect design in nature? What kind of arguments have been used to make the design inference?

Stability of Organic Molecules: Lessons from Vitamin C–by Ryan T. Hayes

Preservation of Dinosaur Soft Tissue: An Update–by Ronny Nalin

DNA and Design–by Timothy G. Standish

Is There Biological Evidence of Life's Recent Creation?–by Timothy G. Standish

A Creationist View of Chromosome Banding and Evolution–by L. James Gibson

Staining of chromosomes reveals a pattern of banding that may be used for comparisons of different species. Similar species typically have similar banding patterns, although there are exceptions. Banding patterns may be interpreted as hypotheses of relationship but are not, in themselves, sufficient to settle such questions. Published in Origins v. 13, n. 1.

Introns: New Complexity in the Synthesis of Higher Organism RNA–by Berney R. Neufeld

Portions of the DNA information are not present in mRNA transcribed from the DNA, in plants and animals, as opposed to bacteria. The DNA sequences that are missing in the m-RNA are called introns, and seem to be widespread. Published in Origins v. 5, n. 1.

A Christian Approach to Biology–by L. James Gibson

The philosophical context in which biology is presented can make an important difference in its meaning for the student. The philosophical worldview of the biblical Christian is quite different from that of the non-Christian; thus, the biology teacher may have a profound influence on the development of worldview by the student.

Searching for the Creator through the Study of a Bacterium–by George T. Javor

As a scientist, I frequently find myself taking a polemic stance in defense of creationism. In doing this, I easily lose sight nature as a revealer of its Creator. It is a pleasant change to contemplate my field of scientific interest, looking for insight about the Creator.

Biblical Approaches to Biology–by George T. Javor

The integration of Bible and science is an uphill work that requires careful reading of both the Bible and of scientific data. Because no other natural science has traveled so great a distance down an anti-biblical road, no other science requires this corrective procedure more than biology.

The Bible and Microbiology–by George T. Javor

If microorganisms are indeed ubiquitous and indispensable, it is reasonable to expect to find evidences of their activities in the biblical record. Such an approach may enrich our grasp of the sacred text. This paper intends to show that there is more microbiology in the Bible than meets the eye!

Issues of Origins in Zoology and Genetics: A Look at the Evidence–by Marcia Oliveira de Paula

Zoology and genetics are required courses for biology majors. Both subjects are usually structured around the theme of the theory of evolution. A careful examination of the scientific basis of these disciplines shows that the evolutionary framework doesn't fit with a lot of their fundamental aspects, however. Some of these topics even constitute strong evidence in favor of intelligent design.

Intelligent Design: The Biochemical Challenge to Darwinian Evolution?–by Ewan Ward, Marty Hancock

While Christians may be convinced that design in nature points to a Creator-God, the general scientific community has not been persuaded. Perhaps more scientifically respectable work on intelligent design of the kind done by Behe and Dembski will encourage evolutionary scientists to look beyond purely naturalistic mechanisms to explain the complexity and meaning of life.

Rubisco: No Longer Burdened with Evolutionary Baggage–by Timothy G. Standish

Poor design in Rubisco can now be added to the growing list of failed Darwinian arguments from ignorance.

Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model to Understand the Role of Epigenetic Heritage in Microevolution–by Tiago A. J. de Souza

Questioning the Age of “Mitochondrial Eve?”–by L. James Gibson

Confirmation that fathers may sometimes pass mitochondrial DNA to their children violates the assumptions used to calculate the age of the most recent female common ancestor of all living humans. Published in Origins v. 21, n. 2.

Annotations from the Literature

A collection of short commentaries on scientific papers published in 2001, covering topics such as phylogeny of songbirds, theodicy, mutation rates, genetic load, fossilization process, Permian mass extinction, marsupial fossil in Madagascar, Cambrian Explosion, Ediacaran fossils, quality of the fossil record, philosophy of science, radiohalos, speciation in Galapagos finches.

Rushing to Judgment: Functionality in Noncoding or “Junk” DNA–by Timothy G. Standish

As many important functions played by noncoding DNA have come to light, the assumption can no longer be made that it represents DNA potsherds of evolution. How much data actually unambiguously support Darwinian evolution? What evolutionary theory actually predicts? And, how data can be used to check its predictive power? Published in Origins n. 53.

Two Jellyfish Genomes Are as Different as Humans and Sea Urchins–by L. James Gibson

Comparison of genomes of jellyfish and sea anemones highlights the importance of orphan genes in taxonomically close organisms.

The Giant Flightless Birds Have Similar Changes in Regulatory Genes Leading to Flightlessness–by L. James Gibson

Is the genetic basis of loss of flight due to mutations in protein-coding genes or in regulatory genes?

Transcription Factors and Body Morphology–by L. James Gibson

Humans have unique “developmental control genes” that distinguish them from chimpanzees and other animals

Different Colors on Different Soils–by L. James Gibson

The specific genes have been identified that cause a lizard to match the black rocks it lives on.

Human Genetic Degeneration–by L. James Gibson

An average of 70 mutations occur in each person.

A Mechanism for Rapid Change in Species–by L. James Gibson

Cichlid fish in Nicaraguan lakes show evidence of rapid change.

A Genomic Code for Chromosomal Structure–by Jim Gibson

Chromosomes regulate their own structure through their sequences of non-protein-coding DNA.

Surprising Molecules from Dinosaurs–by Jim Gibson

Claims of dinosaur DNA stir controversy

Pseudogenes at Work–by Jim Gibson

Pseudogenes are important in gene regulation and other activities.

“Silent” Substitutions Make a Difference–by Jim Gibson

Changing a DNA sequence can affect a protein even if it does not change the amino acid sequence.

Darwin’s Cost–by Jim Gibson

Species may undergo minor adaptation through Darwinian processes, but this comes at the cost of genetic deterioration.

How Many Brains Do We Have?–by Timothy G. Standish

New study of neuronal diversification reveals the complexity of the gut's brain

Synthesizing Life in the Laboratory: Why is it not Happening?–by George T. Javor

Laboratory abiogenesis is one of the ultimate goals of experimental biology. The most formidable barrier to create living matter in the laboratory is not the complexity of the cell, rather the absolute requirement for non-equilibrium steady state for all chemical reactions. Current synthetic biology technologies cannot yet produce cells, which harbor chemical systems in non-equilibrium steady-states.

On the Origin of Life, Computer Code, and Brownies–by Arthur G. Schwarz

Review by Arthur G. Schwarz of the book “The DNA Question: Where Does the Information Come From?"