Methinks it is sort-of like two weasels

[lee_merrill]

@Mercer

@lee_merrill

Two mutations for a 1 in 10^20 organism rate is reasonable, though, given that 1 mutation produces atovaquone resistance in about 1 in 10^12 organisms.

Your retort is incoherent.

That’s not incoherent, because the probability of two independent events is the square of the probability of one such event.

@Mercer

@lee_merrill

But the 1 in 10^20 number includes all the listed factors.

Behe attributes the number entirely to the factors of mutation and natural selection. That’s where he’s wrong.

@lee_merrill

If two mutations are indeed required for resistance, and the rate is about the square of atovaquone resistance, then it would seem appropriate to focus on mutation and selection, leaving other considerations to the side.

No, I don’t see that you have any evidence to support that claim.

Well, that’s my evidence, if you don’t agree, then why not?

@Mercer

@lee_merrill

@Mercer

He admitted it under oath.

No, he implied he had read recent research.

That’s objectively false, Lee.

He said in court “You only have to read recent research to get caught up on a subject”, or words to that effect. That would imply that he had done this.

@Mercer

@lee_merrill

I’m sure you know these areas better than I do.

I am too. So why do you keep pretending that you know better? Why do you keep quoting Behe as though I should view him as authoritative in these areas?

Because I think he has some insights that are valid. His arguments hold up pretty well in internet discussions, as I have seen.

@Mercer

@lee_merrill

and described many of the papers in his books, implying he has read them.

What exactly was his description of Yang’s review, which he used to support a claim he now admits is false? How does describing a paper imply that one has actually read it? After all, you’re here pretending to know what is or isn’t in a paper without reading it.

Well, the Vpu function in HIV came up after Behe wrote his book, and I expect that Behe does read papers, that is part of his job description. And I’m glad to read papers as best I can, if they’re not behind a paywall.