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Did Kinesins Arise by Chance?

After watching the new animation in Discovery Institute’s series on molecular machines, "The Workhorse of the Cell: Kinesin," Dr. Kjell J. Tveter asked us to share his comments. Dr. Tveter, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Surgery and Urology, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.

You have to see this video of kinesin and get acquainted with a nano-sized worker in your body. Kinesin performs important jobs in cells by moving cargo from one place to another. Improper function of kinesin leads to defects, diseases or even death. For me personally the mere existence of kinesin is convincing evidence of intelligent causation of life’s processes.

During the past two decades molecular biology has revealed fascinating intracellular complexity. Even the simplest cell uses nanomachinery, composed of specific proteins generating different forms of motors that may rotate at several thousand RPMs, or move cargo inside the cell.

Kinesin walks along microtubules that build up the cell’s skeleton. It is essential for life. Malfunction of kinesin may be disastrous.

To perform its task adequately, kinesin must receive detailed information telling it where to go to pick up cargo, and where to deliver it — and in some miraculous way it is able to do exactly that. If the cargo is heavy, two such intracellular workers may join efforts and help each other, an activity demanding intelligent communication.

Please, after seeing this video, take the opportunity to reflect on whether nanomachines produced for specific purposes could arise by chance when they depend upon detailed information both for their making and their function.

That seems to be the essential question, doesn’t it?

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