To test if
evolution is possible, consider a gene that is common to all living things. That is the
gene is found in algae, bacteria, oak trees, carrots, mice, fish, people and all other
living things. This gene will not be identical in all living things, but it will be
similar. The form of the gene found in bacteria has had at least 2 and probably 3 billion
years to change independently from the same gene found in animals and plants. The form of
the gene in an oak tree has had at least 1 billion years to evolve independently from the
gene in man. This gene and many others like it allow science to conduct experiments that
look back in time - almost to the origin of life itself.
A comparison of this ancient gene in many different species will reveal
how much information the gene contains, and from such an analysis, one can calculate the
probability associated with the gene’s evolution. If the probability so calculated is
for all practical purposes zero, then design may be inferred. Unfortunately, this
inference is not compelling because it fails to consider the effect of natural selection.
In order to make the argument for design stronger, the concept of information must be
replaced with another familiar concept, knowledge. The two definitions that follow are
important.
Molecular information is the information found in a gene today. It is
calculated by comparing the differences found in the same gene in many different animals,
plants and bacteria. Information has a precise mathematical definition as defined by
information theory.
Molecular Knowledge is the minimum amount of useful information
required by a gene to have any function. Any gene that does not contain the required
molecular knowledge to perform a specific function has no function at all. Thus, such a
gene cannot be preserved or optimized by natural selection. Molecular knowledge is always
less than molecular information. Molecular knowledge is more difficult to calculate
because it does not have a precise mathematical definition.
Next: Evolution of Molecular Knowledge
Previous: Molecular Theory of Evolution
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