Phosphorus plays a crucial role in life chemistry. Phosphates serve as the backbone for all nucleic acids and are the major repository of chemical energy for metabolism. The human body contains about 11,000 parts per million of phosphorus by weight.
Biochemical Design"Junk" DNA Not so Junky
1/1/2000 A recent report by researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) provides new evidence that non-coding DNA (typically referred to as “junk” DNA or “selfish” DNA) is not useless. Instead it appears to serve an essential function in complex cells. 30% Inefficiency by Design
4/1/2001 Cells use a highly wasteful process when producing proteins. Roughly 30 percent of all newly synthesized proteins must be degraded (broken down) by the cell immediately after formation because they are improperly made. A Biochemical Watch Found in a Cellular Heath
1/10/2008 Kai ABC Proteins Re-invigorate the Watchmaker Argument for God’s Existence A Couple of Tasty Morsels
5/22/2008 A sampling of new research uncovers more function for junk DNA, undermines one of the best arguments for biological evolution AAA+ Biomolecular Motors Provide A-1 Evidence for Design
10/29/2009 One of the things I find intriguing as a biochemist is how much the inner workings of the cell have in common with an automobile engine. A number of protein complexes inside the cell operate as molecular-level machines. In fact, some of these machines bear a startling similarity to man-made machines. This similarity represents a potent argument for intelligent design. Are Pseudogenes Junk?
5/31/2007 Evolutionary biologists regard “junk” DNA as one of the most potent pieces of evidence for biological evolution. Often identical (or nearly identical) segments of junk DNA occur in a wide range of related organisms. Award-Winning Protein Discovery Reveals Design
1/1/2005 Each year the Nobel Foundation gives awards for accomplishments that benefit humanity. The 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to biochemists Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko (from Israel) and Irwin Rose (America) for ground-breaking work in understanding the molecular basis of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.1 Bacteria: Ordered and Organized
2/28/2008 Latest Discoveries Highlight the Exquisite Molecular Arrangement of Simplest Life Biochemical Synonyms Optimized, Part 1of 2
8/21/2008 New Study Uncovers More Evidence for Biochemical Optimization and Intelligent Design Biochemical Synonyms Optimized, Part 2 of 2
8/28/2008 New Study Uncovers More Evidence for Biochemical Optimization and Intelligent Design Biochemistry and the Bible: Collaborators in Design An Interview with Dr. Fuz Rana
7/1/2000 Fazale (Fuz) Rana is vice president for science apologetics at Reasons To Believe, a regular guest on RTB’s weekly television and radio programs, and a contributing editor to Facts for Faith. Fuz earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Ohio University. Biochemists Ask, "How Low Can Life Go?"
7/1/2006 "How low can you go?" This familiar call challenges limbo dancers to maneuver their way under a stick held ever closer to the ground. Some biochemists have taken part in a stick dance of their own. Advances in molecular biology make it possible for scientists to take up the challenge of determining "How low can life go?" as they assess life's minimal complexity. Bombarded by Design
5/9/2008 “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.” — Richard Dawkins, atheist biologist, in The Blind Watchmaker Book Reviews: Unmasking Misconceptions
4/1/2002 The Human Genome Project (HGP) and affiliated technologies, such as cloning and stem cell research, elicit both confusion and concern. Advances in biotechnology may promise cures for many horrible diseases, but they also seemingly place scientists in the position to play God. Bringing Order to the Case for Intelligent Design, Part 1
9/24/2009 During my junior year I became enthralled with cell membranes. Of all the remarkable biochemical systems that constitute life, I found life's molecular boundaries to be the most fascinating. In graduate school, I decided to focus my studies on cell membrane systems. Bringing Order to the Case for Intelligent Design, Part 2
10/1/2009 Last week I mentioned that in graduate school I studied and conducted research on cell membranes. The fluid mosaic model for the structure of cell membranes that I learned in the mid 1980s was conceived only about a decade earlier. Changing Gears
7/11/2008 The intricate design present in biological systems never ceases to amaze. A few months ago I wrote about molecular motors present in biological cells and how they are giving insight to researchers in nanotechnology, either providing them with improved motor designs or actual devices to use in driving man-made miniature machines. Déjá vu—Again, Part 1 of 2
6/19/2008 Newly Discovered Example of Convergence Challenges Biological Evolution Deviant by Design, Part 1 (of 2)
7/2/2009 Study Suggests that Nonuniversal Genetic Codes May Be Good Designs Deviant by Design, Part 2 (of 2)
7/9/2009 Last week I made the point that the forces of nature–in addition to corroding national treasures like the Statue of Liberty–also appear to have degraded biochemical treasures like the highly optimized universal genetic code, causing it to yield deviant (or nonuniversal) codes. Dinosaur Genome Size Estimates: Lagerstatten of Design
7/5/2007 Study of Fossil Remains Identifies another Function for Junk DNA Disposing the Cell's Trash, Part 1 of 2
10/9/2008 New Insight into the Cell’s Quality-Control Systems Provided Added Evidence for Design Disposing the Cell's Trash, Part 2 of 2
10/16/2008 New Insight into the Cell’s Quality-Control Systems Provided Added Evidence for Design DNA Barcodes Used to Inventory Plant Biodiversity
3/6/2008 New Research Substantiates DNA as an ‘Information Harboring’ Molecule DNA Soaks Up Sun's Rays
11/20/2008 DNA Optimized for Photostability, Adds to the Evidence for Design Error Control Coding in Biology Implies Design, Part 1 (of 5)
11/21/2008 It’s no secret that we are highly dependent on electronic devices. We use them for managing schedules, communicating, staying “connected,” and storing, managing, and using various media such as music, photographs, and videos. Error Control Coding in Biology Implies Design, Part 2 (of 5)
11/28/2008 In part 1 of this series we learned how the genetic system is an information-processing system, and outlined several reasons why we could expect to find coding techniques in play to protect the genetic data. Such coding techniques are known and used by engineers to protect the data processed by many modern digital communications systems. Error Control Coding in Biology Implies Design, Part 3 (of 5)
5/12/2008 Parts 1 and 2 of this series observed that biological genetic systems function as information-processing systems, and a case was made for coding techniques that protect the genetic data. As a specific example, the genetic code appears designed to minimize the effects of errors in a way that is directly analogous to Gray codes. Error Control Coding in Biology Implies Design, Part 4 (of 5)
12/12/2008 Anyone up for tic-tac-toe and genetics? It’s not exactly a game, but grab a cup of coffee and let’s explore the intriguing design in genetic systems. Error Control Coding in Biology Implies Design, Part 5 (of 5)
12/19/2008 Parts 1 through 4 of this series described such features as information-processing systems, Gray codes, even parity codes, and error-minimization techniques in biological systems. A fifth feature (not part of this series) observed an analogy of a feedback control system found in dairy cows. Evolvability: A Good Design Principle
4/24/2009 Your computer's newest antivirus probably comes with live updates so it can arm itself against the latest trojan-phishing-spyware attack. It may not stop you from doing silly things like sending your bank information to that lovely man from the British lottery that just happens to want to give you a million dollars, but hopefully it will neutralize other less obvious threats. Falling Back and Jumping Ahead
3/11/2010 In a few days (March 14) Daylight Saving Time will begin. And even though I will lose an hour of snooze time, I am sleeping much better these days now that I delivered the manuscript for my new book to Baker Books. Faster by Design, Part 1 of 2
7/24/2008 Scientists Create Enzyme from Scratch Faster by Design, Part 2 of 2
7/1/2008 Scientists Create Enzyme from Scratch Feedback Control in Biology
8/4/2008 Calcium levels of pregnant cows in Iowa may not be the first image that comes to mind when Christian apologists invoke supernatural design, but that appears to be the case based on a recent feedback control study. Functional DNA amid Piles of Junk
4/1/2008 Sometimes my daughters' bedrooms are unbelievably messy. Junk everywhere. It often looks like a clothes bomb detonated. I have no idea how they can find anything in the aftermath of such devastation. FYI: I.D. IN DNA Deciphering Design in the Genetic Code
1/1/2002 A pilot flying his plane over the South Pacific sees an uncharted island in the distance and circles downward to take a closer look. As the plane descends, the pilot spots large rocks on the island's shore arranged to spell out SOS. Beyond the reach of waves, he notices a grass hut. Without hesitation, the pilot radios for help. Getting Ready for Fun in the Sun
6/18/2009 It's that time of the year when everyone starts thinking about having "fun in the Sun." Unfortunately, I am not one of them. Instead I am stuck inside laboring as hard as I can to finish the manuscript for a new book. (The working title: Life in the Lab). iDNA: The Next Generation of iPods?
7/1/2008 Inability to Repeat the Past Dooms Evolution
8/7/2008 Experimental Support for Historical Contingency Challenges Biological Evolution Increasing the Torque on Intelligent Design
5/21/2009 Some people are so well known they need no introduction. That's also the case for the bacterial flagellum. This protein complex, embedded in the cell wall of many different bacteria, has become the widely recognized symbol of intelligent design. Is Junk DNA Evidence for Biological Evolution?
5/3/2007 Long Terminal Repeats Function as Promoters for the NAIP Gene in Mammals Junk DNA Regulates Gene Expression
9/13/2007 Junk DNA Plays an Important Role in Development Junk DNA: A Problem for the Evolutionary Paradigm?
12/6/2007 New Discoveries Raise Questions about Molecular Evolution Kidney Stones- Evidence for Divine Design
10/1/2004 "It's the closest that a man will ever come to experiencing the pain of childbirth," the attending nurse proclaimed with a noticeable glee in her eyes. Her comment only added to my misery as I writhed in pain on a stretcher in the emergency room, waiting to pass a kidney stone. Lightest Element, Heaviest Load
8/5/2009 A quick survey of the world around us makes it pretty clear that we just can’t live without hydrogen. I live in Baltimore, and every Friday in the summer cars pack onto Interstate 95, headed to the beaches of Delaware or to Ocean City (Maryland or New Jersey). Yet, without hydrogen we wouldn’t have clear blue ocean waters or gasoline for our cars or steel or plastic to make cars—you get the picture. Little Motors, Big Designer
1/18/2008 As a student I came across the humorous definition of a nuclear physicist as one who was “learning more and more about less and less, until finally he knew everything about nothing.” In today’s world of research, this reference to the wonders of nature at its tiniest levels could also be said about the biologist. Metabolism: A Cascade of Design
1/1/2009 Charles Darwin’s view of the cell differed greatly from the picture we have today. More Complex than Imagined, Part 1 (of 2)
New Research Reveals Insight into Life’s Minimum Complexity Originally Posted on 1/7/2010 First impressions mean a lot. My initial exposure to introductory undergraduate classes in biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology got me excited about the prospects of becoming a professional biochemist. More Complex than Imagined, Part 2 (of 2)
1/21/2010 After being married for nearly 24 years and raising three daughters, I have come to appreciate that women are much more complicated than I could have ever otherwise imagined. More on the Nucleoskeletal Hypothesis
7/12/2007 Study of Sexual Parasite Reveals Function for Junk DNA Mutations Exceed Expectations
4/1/1999 Ironically, modern "advances" could serve to hasten humanity's demise. For the first time, geneticists have measured the proportion of harmful mutations arising in one generation of advanced species. The numbers are staggering. Nanodevices Make Megascopic Statement
10/1/2001 The “Watchmaker” argument asserts that as the intricacy of a watch implies the mind and work of a watchmaker, so the complexity of an organism also implies the work of an Intelligent Designer. Skeptics, in attacking the Watchmaker argument, challenge the necessity of a Creator’s existence from the study of nature, saying that at best, only a weak analogy exists between a watch and nature. Natural Nucleobase Synthesis?
8/27/2007 The replicating molecules of life (DNA and RNA) are composed of different nucleobase molecules linked together by phosphates and five-carbon sugars. New Clues to a Genesis Mystery
10/1/2003 The biblical record of patriarchs who lived 900+ years has raised questions and doubts for centuries. In the context of current life expectancy (which places me on the brink of “senior citizen” status), some Bible readers assume the “years” in the Genesis 5 and 11 chronologies must have been shorter than the familiar 12-month whirl around the Sun. New Discovery Pumps Up Evidence for Design
1/1/2007 Nobody likes an infection. Most illnesses caused by bacteria present little more than a nuisance easily treated with a few doses of antibiotics. But some infections can be life-threatening and require carefully controlled administration of drugs. In such cases, physicians sometimes make use of a small, portable medical device powered by a peristaltic pump (see sidebar) to deliver the right amount of drugs through an IV to the patient. Opossum Genome Leaves Evolution’s Best Argument Dead in the Road
6/14/2007 First Marsupial Genome Indicates that Junk DNA Has Function Overlapping Genes Evince Intelligent Design
7/26/2007 DNA Researchers Uncover Evidence that Overlapping Genes Are Widespread in Mammal Genomes Pairing Up on the Dance Floor
1/1/2008 Imagine jostling and bumping your way around a crowded dance floor. The lights are low and the music is loud. You are trying to connect with a blind date. And all you have to go on is the person's name. It might take you most of the evening to find your companion. Protein Structures Reveal Even More Evidence for Design
10/1/2000 Recent structural characterization of three proteins, RNA polymerase II, thioredoxin reductase (from E. coli), and chloroplast F1-F0 ATPase, provides exciting additional evidence for Design at the subcellular level. Proteins Made by Design, Part 1 (of 3)
4/23/2009 New Discoveries about Ribosomes Add to the Case for Intelligent Design Proteins Made by Design, Part 2 (of 3)
4/30/2009 New Discoveries about Ribosomes Add to the Case for Intelligent Design Proteins Made by Design, Part 3 (of 3)
5/7/2009 New Insight about Biochemical Quality Control Adds to the Case for Intelligent Design Reflecting on the Past and Looking to the Future: What’s in Store for the Evolutionary Paradigm?
12/31/2009 The end of the year is usually the time when people pause and take stock of things: what was accomplished over the course of the last twelve months and what does the next year have in store? Restricted by Design
10/2/2008 Rational Design of Novel Enzyme Highlights Biochemical Design The Genetic Code: Simply the Best
7/1/2007 What was the best movie of the past year? Who is the best-dressed celebrity? What is the best university in the country? Many people are fascinated by lists of “the best.” And apologetics is no exception. The Greatest Gift of All
12/24/2009 Christmas is about giving—and receiving—gifts. Of course, the greatest gift we can receive is the one Christ Jesus gave us: His life. The Nobel Prize, Ribosomes, and Evidence for Intelligent Design
10/22/2009 2009 Chemistry Prize Highlights Biochemical Design Those Amazing Molecular Motors
1/1/2007 In my undergraduate course in biology at Caltech in the late 1950s, a cell was understood simply as a variety of chemical reactions going on inside a tiny test tube.1 Now, 50 years later, scientists know that the structure inside a cell is far more complex and exhibits elegant organization suggestive of a Designer. Traffic Signals in the Cell
4/11/2008 I saw a film a while back where a key part of the plot involved the main characters establishing control over the traffic lights in a major city. By slightly “adjusting” the action of the lights, they were able to create utter chaos in a way they desired. Uprooting a “Bad Design” Argument
3/4/2010 In spite of recent claims, the enzyme rubisco is optimally designed What is a Code?
7/1/2007 As kids we had great fun passing handwritten notes to each other across the classroom. The challenge was to avoid the teacher’s detection. The more "sophisticated" among us would convert them into secret messages by writing them in code. Why Shorter Life Spans?
1/1/2001 None of the explanations offered in the accompanying article imply that God randomly selected the life span of early humans or that He simply reacted to natural disasters in shortening human life. Winding Up Paley's Watch, One More Time
12/11/2008 New Discovery adds to Evidence for Biochemical Design Biochemical DesignBiochemical Design and Cosmological Argument
Fuz Rana, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Clutches and Appendixes Show Design
Dave Rogstad, Fuz Rana, and Joe Aguirre Expansion of the Universe and DNA Barcoding
Author: Hugh Ross, Fuz Rana, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Planetary Models and Cellular Trash Transport
Dave Rogstad, Fuz Rana, and Joe Aguirre The New Watchmaker Argument
Dave Rogstad, Fuz Rana & Kenneth Samples The Sun, Eggs, and Hell
Dave Rogstad, Fuz Rana, and Ken Samples Time, Space, and Eternity
Fuz Rana, Jeff Zweerink, and Kenneth Samples Traffic Signals Inside the Cell
Author: Dave Rogstad, Fuz Rana, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Biochemical Design |