Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 352 pages
• Published by: Free Press
• Edition: 2nd Edition March 7, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0743290313
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0743290319
• Book Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 10.4 ounces

Product Review
Michael J. Behe, a biochemist at Lehigh University, presents here a scientific argument for the existence of God. looking at the evolutionary theory of the origins of life, he can go part of the way with Darwin--he accepts the idea that species have been differentiated by the mechanism of natural selection from a common ancestor. But he thinks that the essential randomness of this process can explain evolutionary development only at the macro level, not at the micro level of his expertise. Within the Biochemistry of living cells, he argues, life is "irreducibly complex." This is the last black box to be opened, the end of the road for science. Faced with complexity at this level, Behe suggests that it can only be the product of "intelligent design." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Charles Darwin's theory of life's evolution through natural selection and random mutation fails to account for the origin of astonishingly complex biomolecular systems, argues Behe, associate professor of Biochemistry at Lehigh University. In this spirited, witty critique of neo-Darwinian thinking, he focuses on five phenomena: blood clotting; cilia, oar-like bundles of fibers; the human immune system; transport of materials within the cell; and the synthesis of nucleotides, building blocks of DNA. In each case, he finds systems that are irreducibly complex?no gradual, step-by-step, Darwinian route led to their creation. As an alternative explanation, Behe infers that complex biochemical systems (i.e., life) were designed by an intelligent agent, whether God, extraterrestrials or a universal force. He notes that Francis Crick, co-discoverer of DNA's double-helix structure, proposed that life began when aliens from another planet sent a rocket ship containing spores to seed Earth. Perhaps Behe's plea for incorporating a "theory of intelligent design" into mainstream biology will spark interest. Illustrated. Translation and U.K. rights: Simon & Schuster.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution (Paperback) I'm going to review this book by different criteria than usual. It seems that some reviewers have given this book five stars if they agreed with the author's theory (ie, that you can't evolve the biochemical structures that we've got), and one or two stars if they disagreed. It just so happens that I was convinced by this book and now believe that Darwinism is a crock... HOWEVER, I also realise that I'm a professional accountant who wouldn't know biochemistry if his life depended on it. (Which it does, come to think of it). So my opinion on whether the theory is true or not is really irrelevant. Until I read books by Behe's opponents, (such as the ones mentioned by reviewer Patrick S of Lousiville Kentucky), I'm going to have to review this book based on the extent it drew me into the subject. And on that note, Darwin's Black Box deserves 5 stars. Possibly 6. If you start talking to me in Latin about the structures of the human body, I fall asleep. But talk about the systems a security company uses to secure a building, and then show how those same systems are used by a bunch of teeny-weeny dumb chemicals in the immune system, and my jaw goes "bonk" as it hits the floor. Explain the blood-clotting system in terms of a Rube Goldberg comic strip and I begin to wish I studied biology. I lost count of how many times I went "wow" while reading this. And really, what else do you need in a popular science book? Actually, you also need the theory to be true. Well, maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. (I'm just an accountant remember, so don't ask me). But having read this book, I'm quite looking forward to reading the other side of the argument from Dawkins, Orr, Miller, and the others mentioned below. Let's hope they write as well as Behe! PS: Other biological "Wow" books that I've read include The Body at War by John Dwyer, and Origins by Robert Shapiro.