Signature in the Cell, ch. 1-5

Chapter 1 successfully opens the book by presenting the major problems with the philosophical positions in science today. Meyer seems overwhelmingly qualified to discuss the importance of DNA evidence and the concept of ID. Setting up the controversy, Meyer escorts us into the dialogue.

Chapter 2 offers interesting perspective and challenges assumptions of many American thinkers. He asserts that Darwin's goal in Origin was to explain the origin of new life forms not the first life forms. What is really at play here is a need to the answer to the philosophical question 'what is life?' Using Oparin, Meyer leads us to DNA.

Chapter 3 demonstrates the development of the DNA in its current form of a double helix and 'how we got there'. He walks the reader through the essential work of Watson and Crick. What is so important is that most scientist think only in terms of matter and energy, while DNA offers the concept of information.

Chapter 4 bears the title of the book. DNA transmitting information using protein seems like an impossibly complex system for mere chance to bring about. What is interesting about this chapter is how Meyer expresses this as such a great dilemma for scientific naturalists. It has always been assumed that the burden of proof is on the theist, but as Meyer describes it, the burden of proof is on the naturalist because of DNA.

Chapter 5 builds further on the previous concepts in a more complex way. I am not terribly scientifically minded. So, I found it difficult to keep up, even with copious amounts of charts and diagrams. What is clear, though, is that DNA structures make for a vicious circle for the naturalist because it requires coding and decoding that cannot be done through blind chance. Rather, it seems a complex mind is at work in the process.