If you suggest that there are indications of a higher, organizing intelligence underlying the structure of the cosmos and the complexity of life, you will be told (by some) that science says otherwise. A common talking point is "junk DNA," the worthless detritus that makes up 80% of the human genome. How could any self-respecting Universal Mind saddle us with so much trash?
Except now it turns out that junk DNA ain't so junky, after all.
In the words of philosopher Gomer Pyle ...
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Ah ah ah Michael.
Not all of the junk DNA has a purpose just most of it but of course as you and I both suspect even that titchy smidgeon'll almost certainly turn out to have an unsuspcted function.
When I was a kid in Sixties Liverpool tonsils were whipped out at the first opportunity supposedly because they were useless relics but now even the appendix's suspected of being the means by which various types of useful bacteria're replenished and no doubt it'll turn out to have other unsuspected functions.
The womb too was often whipped out the moment a woman went through the menopause supposedly because it no longer had any biological function but even that story's changing.
It's like I was reading someone quoting Richard Dawkins the other day saying mystics like to keep everything a big mystery but that just means he finds mysticism as mystifying as others find quantum physics.
And apparently now even good old straight forward biology can be mystifying - for biologists!
Posted by: alanborky | September 08, 2012 at 05:25 PM
IMJ junk DNA that actually *is* "junk" would *not* count against the idea of "a higher, organizing intelligence underlying the structure of the cosmos and the complexity of life". *But* the opposite is also true - the discovery that "junk DNA" isn't junk doesn't support the idea of " a higher, organizing intelligence underlying the structure of the cosmos and the complexity of life". IMJ.
Posted by: Pat | September 08, 2012 at 06:49 PM
May there be more mystifying science to reveal the truth.
Thirteens things that don't make sense.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18524911.600-13-things-that-do-not-make-sense.html
Lyn.
Posted by: lynn | September 09, 2012 at 01:14 AM
LOL! I wish there was a "like" or "recommend" button to push on this blog post, especially the Gomer Pyle "surprise, surprise, surprise!" It brought a smile to my face. Took me back a lot of years too.
Posted by: Art | September 10, 2012 at 01:27 PM
Hey Lynn, I went and shared your New Scientist link on my facebook page. When I was a kid my mom used to say "Truth is stranger than fiction." At the time I didn't believe that could be true but now that I'm a whole lot older and wiser I'm pretty sure she was right. Thanks for the link. Good article.
Posted by: Art | September 10, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Cool Thanx. Love Scientific American also who put out books with some of their best articles.
Yep, Science definitely stranger than Non Fiction it seems. Lyn x.
Posted by: lynn | September 10, 2012 at 10:04 PM
I mean Fiction, aaah type error. Lyn.
Posted by: lynn | September 10, 2012 at 10:06 PM