RE: Irreducible Complexity

Pim van Meurs (entheta@eskimo.com)
Fri, 11 Sep 1998 07:40:47 -0700

Joseph: << Please stick with the bacterial flagellum. Start with C,H,O and N.
What are the chances of arriving at one amino acid? Twenty different
amino acids? Then 150 of those 20 in the right sequence to form one of
the needed proteins for the flagellum, then enough of them to form one
of the structures, e.g. the filament. What is the probability so far?>>

Well, you tell us dear Joseph.

Joseph:
<< Does this come close to a billion to one or is it more like 10^90 as
Yockey estimated?>>

Yockey's argument is fallacious in many ways. So perhaps you should provide us with your estimates and calculations of the odds ?

Joseph:
<<A billion to one is Dawkins' estimate for the spontaneous generation of
a cell from the primordial soup (see The Blind Watchmaker).>>

But with a few billion locations for this to start, the chances are actually pretty good would you not agree ?

I notice that you are not only confused about abiogenesis but also about probability. Please show us the calculations supporting your argument about the (im)probability of the flagellum proteins ? Then we can discuss this in further detail.

I hope you will honor this request as you were claiming to be adhering to the scientific method. This is the opportunity to finally live up to your promises.