Natural Selection Requires Intelligent Design or Barry White

Scientists define “natural selection” specifically as “those mechanisms that contribute to the selection of individuals that reproduce.” That is, in most cases, individuals that have “heritable traits.” I suppose the idea is that if you have some “heritable traits” (i.e. reproductive organs, Barry White albums, cologne, etc…) you have more of a chance to get to the point where you reproduce more of, well, things like you. I get that. I’ve done that – well, not the Barry White part. Sure enough, me and my offspring are scientific proof of natural selection.

Now, it strikes me that natural selection, as a scientific theory, is an observed effect of certain physical laws proved by experimentation rather than a cause. As we observe natural selection in action – most notably how microorganisms mutate to the point where they can survive exposure to antibiotics – we see the natural selection laws are indeed at work. All good, it’s science.

But, what causes natural selection? Why does it work? That’s where things get tricky. Step aside Barry White.

Somehow this highly complex stuff called DNA came into existence that is at the core of every living creature. DNA carries these “heritable” and “non-heritable” traits that drive natural selection in very specific, non-random sequences – also known as genetic code. DNA has very specific behaviors like replication for cell division, and it is formed in the reproduction process. DNA is entirely non-random and full of purpose. And, while natural selection may at its core be driven by random selection, reproduction, which makes natural selection possible, is entirely a system which at its core begs the notion of design – and intelligence.