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Irreducible Complexity
Irreducible complexity is not a very well known subject, but ever so important. By the time
Darwin developed his theory of evolution, there was hardly any knowledge about the
complexity of a cell. What do we mean with 'complexity'?
A cell is like a very complex factory. Many different 'molecular machines', like the golgiapparatus, the endoplasmic reticulum, the mitochondria and many more, take care of various
processes within the cell. The processes are all part of one system, which means that the one
process cannot function without other processes. You could say there is a certain coöperation
between the various organelles within the cell.
The cell: organelles take care of various complex processes.
Michael Behe is a biophysics professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He believes in
evolution as explanation of the later development of animals. But he seriously doubts if
evolution can explain the existence of the cell. As Darwin said in his book Origin: "If it could be
demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by
numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down..."
Simply put, Michael Behe has found such a case. He reasons that a cell can only function as a
complete unit. That means a cell is unable to function if it gradually comes into existence by
means of evolution. He uses a mouse trap as an example. A mouse trap does not function if
parts are missing. All the various parts have to be assembled in the right position for the
mouse trap to work smoothly. In this sense, a cell can only function if all the 'parts' (or
systems) are present within the cell. That's what we call the 'irreducible complexity' of a cell. If
only one minor fragment is missing, the cell is unable to function.
So the question is: How could a cell ever have been evolved from a 'simple' to a 'complex' form
if it only functions as a whole, all systems included?
http://www.creationevolution.net/irreducible_complexity.htm. Used with permission.