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Line 31: − ===Counter arguments to the Combinatorial argument=== − Dembski's calculation considers only the probability of spontaneous, random assembly for each of the proteins of the flagellum. His conclusion that the flagellum is unevolvable fits with his view that "The Darwinian mechanism is powerless to produce irreducibly complex systems...". − − However, by treating the flagellum as a "discrete combinatorial object" he has only shown that it is unlikely that the parts of the flagellum could assemble spontaneously. Unfortunately, no scientist has ever proposed that the flagellum or any other complex object evolved that way. This is a straw man argument, and the calculations are irrelevant. − − He assumed that none of the 30 proteins of the flagellum could have biological activity. We can see from the work on the TTSS that this is wrong. Nearly a third of those proteins are closely related to components of the TTSS, which does indeed have biological activity. This seems to invalidate the underlying assumption of his calculations.
→Counter arguments to the Combinatorial argument
Dembski states that, given enough time, any event with a probability larger than 10<sub>-150</sub> might well take place. He puts the odds of evolving the 30 proteins of the bacterial flagellum at 20<sub>-30</sub> ("around 10<sub>-39</sub>") and explains that since the flagellum requires 30 such proteins, they "will all need to be multiplied to form the origination probability", which would give an origination probability for the flagellum of 10 <sub>-1170</sub>. This is well below the universal probability bound, demonstrating, in his view, that the flagellum could not have evolved.
Dembski states that, given enough time, any event with a probability larger than 10<sub>-150</sub> might well take place. He puts the odds of evolving the 30 proteins of the bacterial flagellum at 20<sub>-30</sub> ("around 10<sub>-39</sub>") and explains that since the flagellum requires 30 such proteins, they "will all need to be multiplied to form the origination probability", which would give an origination probability for the flagellum of 10 <sub>-1170</sub>. This is well below the universal probability bound, demonstrating, in his view, that the flagellum could not have evolved.
==References==
==References==