Aish.

com Weekly Email - 260,000 subscribers your email address

search aish.com

Jewish World
Current Issues
• society
• work
• salomon says -
video
• arts
• science & medical
• women A physicist brings a novel
Spirituality approach that challenges
Family the assumptions of
Dating evolution.
Jewish Literacy If you would
Holocaust Studies Weekly Upda
by Dr. Lee M. Spetner via e
Torah Portion
Shabbat
Holidays Email this Print this
Western Wall Cam
Pathways (Adapted for the web by Rabbi Shmuel Silinsky)
Jewlarious
Videos Dr. Spetner's book, "Not By Chance", has created a stir among
Ask The Rabbi biologists and geneticists. It explains a new approach to
MP3 Audio Site evaluating evolution, and has been hailed by Professor E.
Aish Shopping Simon of Purdue University, a prominent geneticist, as "the most
Programs in Israel rational attack on evolution that I have ever read."
About Us/Donate
Aish Int'l Dr. Spetner shows that neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory
Email Lists cannot do what is claimed for it; the theory cannot account for
RSS
the development of life from some simple beginning. It simply
Mobile Version cannot account for the broad sweep of evolution.

What follows is a synopsis of some points in the book. For in

depth understanding, read the book for yourself. You can get it
at Amazon Books.

A SYNOPSIS

When prominent biologists claim that "evolution is a fact," they

are stating a half-truth that means far less than what they would
like the public to believe. The theory of evolution -- and it is just
that, a theory -- states that the development of life is a purely
natural process, driven by known mechanisms. But this is simply
not true. There is no evidence that life developed, or even could
have developed, by a purely natural process.

According to neo-Darwinian theory, the process that accounts

for the evolution of all life is that of random mutations shaped by
 natural selection. This theory says that evolution is built up by a
long series of many steps. In each step many random changes
occur in the hereditary storage of organisms. If one of these
random changes should by chance happen to make the
organism better adapted to its environment, then natural
selection will
spread that change through the population. Each of these
changes is said to be small, but the accumulation of a long
series of them is said to account for large changes in
populations adapting them to their environment. This process is
assumed to work, and on the basis of that assumption, evolution
is said to account for the development of all life.

Experiments have also been performed to

On the basis of an show that the process of selection does
unproven indeed work under the right conditions.
Aish.com delivered assumption, Moreover, random mutations have been
e-mail evolution is said observed that do improve the
Aish Mobile
to account for the adaptiveness of the organism under
Add Aish.com button to my certain conditions. From these
Google Toolbar development of observations, evolutionists have
all life. (unjustifiably) extrapolated to say that
random mutations and natural selection
can account for the development of life.

THE GLITCH IN EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

However, on both theoretical and experimental grounds, the

broad sweep of evolution cannot be based on random
mutations. On theoretical grounds, the probability is just too
small for random mutations, even with the filtering of natural
selections, to lead to a new species.
Recomme

On experimental grounds, there are no known random Not By Chance

mutations that have added any genetic information to the

organism. This may seem surprising at first, but a list of the best Science
examples of mutations offered by evolutionists shows that each
of them loses genetic information rather than gains it.

One of the examples where information is lost is the one often

trotted out by evolutionists nowadays in an attempt to convince
the public of the truth of evolution. That is the evolution of
bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Clearly, if random mutations could account for the evolution of

life, then those mutations must have added a vast amount of
information to the genetic code. From the time of the first simple
organism until the present profusion of life, billions of genetic
changes would have to be built up by a long series of
accumulated mutations and natural selection. It follows that
each of these many billions of mutations must have added
information. Yet in spite of all the molecular studies that have
been done on mutations, not a single one has been found that
adds any genetic information! They all lose information!

NON-RANDOM EVOLUTION

There is, however, both direct and indirect evidence that some
evolution has occurred. How did it occur?

It is suggested that although significant evolution cannot occur

by random mutations, it could occur by non-random mutations.
Non-random here means that the environment itself influences
what mutations can occur. There is extensive evidence for
evolution by non-random mutations -- evidence that spans life
forms from bacteria through vertebrates.

No one has yet been able to point to a flaw in this basic

argument. No one has so far refuted this conclusion.

Whereas standard neo-Darwinian theory

No one has yet relies on point mutations that are
been able to point essentially mistakes in replicating the
to a flaw in this DNA, there are other kinds of mutations
basic argument, that are not mistakes.
nor refuted this
Genetic rearrangements are complex
conclusion.
genetic changes. They are carried out with
precision and are driven by sophisticated
cellular mechanisms. These mutations appear to be triggered by
cues from the environment and they do not appear to be the
product only of chance.

These genetic rearrangements may be part of a built-in

mechanism that permits a line of organisms to adapt to a new
environment. Part of the genetic program of the organism seems
to be a set of genetic switches that can be triggered by the
environment. These enable a heritable switch in the organism to
one of a limited set of alternate forms. An interesting feature of
this mechanism is that it can cause a population to adapt rapidly
to a new
environment.

Since "Not By Chance" has been published, biologists are

beginning to acknowledge the importance of these non-random
mutations in evolution. They suggest, though, that these built-in
If you would
mechanisms have themselves evolved. Can this be? Weekly Upda
via e
Classic neo-Darwinian evolution calls for many steps, each
consisting of a large number of trials whose duration is a
generation. For the evolution of these built-in mechanisms one
must invoke the same kind of process, but each trial would have
to have a duration of millions of generations. Can this really be? Hear related

This brief synopsis gives several points mentioned in Dr Lee

Spetner's "Not By Chance". For in depth understanding, read
the book for yourself. You can get it at
Amazon Books

Add to Facebook Published: Wednesday, January 26, 2000

Top of article Submit comment Email this Print this

VISITORS COMMENTS: 8
(1) leo 2/17/2005
GENIUS!
Having just finished (around 15 minutes ago) Not By Chance, I can honestly say
that it was incredible book. It offers extremely valuable insights into many diverse
fields of scientific research which have important implications for neo-darwinian
evolution. I highly recommend the book. (Though I do think it's somewhat
technical, and that a reader would be best off with at least some background in
cellular biology before reading the book.) (Interestingly, Spetner reports that the
thrust of his thesis is actually parallel to an idea presented in the Talmud!)

In regard to Benjamin's comment below:

Shalom. There is much written about about the "evolution" of birds, and finches in
particular. (I guess following the tradition of Darwin from his trip to the galapagos.)
Spetner actually addresses the issue in his book. (Icons of Evolution also has
some very good material on "darwin's finches".) Bottomline: these cases of
"evolution" are not secrets and are well known in the biological world. There are
very many valid objections to using it as a "proof".

Also, I would have to argue with your belief that "no religion is perfect". I believe
that G-d is all powerful and is thus fully capable of making a perfect religion. (I
don't think He'd give us a religion which wasn't perfect either!)
And, as King David declared in one my favorite psalms (which is part of the
Jewish prayer on Sabbath), "The law of the L-RD is perfect, restoring the soul; the
testimony of the L-RD is sure, making wise the simple." (Ps. 19:8)

btw, I first heard of this incredible book around 6 months ago when I read this
article on aish! Reading it has enhanced my understanding of the world. Thanks
again aish!

(2) Chris 4/14/2001

I have found 'Not by Chance' very interesting and helpful
As a person working in Information Technology I have believed that the General
Theory of Evolution is not supported by the Law of Information, even though micro
evolution is allowed by it. How wonderfully Dr Spetner makes this all clear.

(3) robert 4/2/2001

What environmental clues?
I agree with the assertions about chance you and others make, especially that
mutations cannot be random.

My web site might be of interest to you as well, as it concerns this topic.

"Towards a New Theory of Evolution"

www.variation1.com

Sincerely,

Robert M Hamilton, Ph.D.

About the author:

Like what you read? As a non-profit organization, Aish.com relies on support

from readers like you to enable us to provide inspiring and relevant articles.
Click here to support Aish.com.

Judaism | Society Today | Jewish World | Dating | Family | Spirituality | Jewish Literacy
Holocaust | Western Wall Camera | Ask the Rabbi | Weekly Torah Portion | Holidays
Email Lists | Jer. Building | Online Seminars | Discovery Seminar | Israel Programs
Videos | Day in Jewish History | MP3 Audio Site | Birthright Israel Trip
Support Aish.com | Candle Lighting Times | Shabbat Site | site map
Classic Sinai | Aish Shopping

Site contents copyright © 1995 - 2008 Aish HaTorah

Contact Us | About Aish | Your Privacy | Advertise Here | Submit Articles | Jobs
Donate to Aish

Our Privacy Guarantee: Your information is private. Your transactions are secure.
Aish.com, One Western Wall Plaza, POB 14149, Old City, Jerusalem 91141, ISRAEL
phone: (972-2) 628-5666 fax: (972-2) 627-3172 email: webmaster@aish.com