Posts by Vidqun

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

If I mention the contents of articles and text books and don't quote the source, I am in the dogbox. If I do give the source of the information, I am also in the dogbox. I am happy to be in the dogbox, but I will nevertheless say my say, whether you like it or not. Let’s just make sure we practice what we preach. Don’t you know, What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Benefits of the current RLN setup (the left recurrent laryngeal nerve is not poorly designed, but rather is clear evidence of intelligent design):

Much evidence exists that the present design results from developmental constraints.

There are indications that this design serves to fine-tune laryngeal functions.

The nerve serves to innervate other organs after it branches from the vagus on its way to the larynx.

The design provides backup innervation to the larynx in case another nerve is damaged.

No evidence exists that the design causes any disadvantage.1

Cofty, see what I wrote to Cantleave. I don’t want to keep on repeating myself.

But to add to that, some of us prefer to look at the big picture. If one asserts that the RLN is a poor design you assume that a better design exists, a claim that cannot be asserted unless an alternative embryonic design from fertilized ovum to fetus - including all the incalculable molecular gradients, triggers, cascades, and anatomical twists and tucks - can be proposed that documents an improved design. After this had been accomplished, such a person can criticize the existing design to his heart’s content. Until then, shut up or ship out.

1. Bergman, J. 2010. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Is Not Evidence of Poor Design. Acts & Facts. 39 (8): 12-14.

Dr. Bergman is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Toledo Medical School in Ohio.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

No, Cantleave, you are missing the point and clouding the issue.

Did you miss this point: Human-designed devices, such as radios and computers, do not need to function until their assembly is complete. By contrast, living organisms must function to a high degree in order to thrive during every developmental stage from a single-cell zygote to adult. The embryo as a whole must be a fully functioning system in its specific environment during every second of its entire development.

I, personally, ascribe the position of the laryngeal nerve to the development of the fetus, "necessary consequences of developmental dynamics," and not because of bad design. Blechschmidt compares it to the course of a river, which "cannot be explained on the basis of a knowledge of its sources, its tributaries, or the specific locations of the harbors at its mouth. It is only the total topographical circumstances that determine the river's course." This has been confirmed by dissection of human cadavers. The fact that Blechschmidt believes in the theory of evolution is not important. Whatever the case, he will not be using the position of the laryngeal nerve in the human body as a proof of this theory, I can assure you.

The article you mention actually discusses the benefits of this arrangement, so it's not bad design at all. Actually, it's brilliant.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

Cofty, there’s always two sides to a story. Here’s another variation on the theme. Anyway, this is how I see it:

The most logical reason is that the RLN design is due to developmental constraints. Eminent embryologist Professor Erich Blechschmidt wrote that the recurrent laryngeal nerve's seemingly poor design in adults is due to the "necessary consequences of developmental dynamics," not historical carryovers from evolution. 1

Human-designed devices, such as radios and computers, do not need to function until their assembly is complete. By contrast, living organisms must function to a high degree in order to thrive during every developmental stage from a single-cell zygote to adult. The embryo as a whole must be a fully functioning system in its specific environment during every second of its entire development. For this reason, adult anatomy can be understood only in the light of development. An analogy Blechschmidt uses to help elucidate this fact is the course of a river, which "cannot be explained on the basis of a knowledge of its sources, its tributaries, or the specific locations of the harbors at its mouth. It is only the total topographical circumstances that determine the river's course." 2

Due to variations in the topographical landscape of the mammalian body, the "course of the inferior [meaning lower] laryngeal nerve is highly variant" and minor anatomic differences are common. 3 Dissections of human cadavers found that the paths of the right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves were often somewhat different from that shown in the standard literature, illustrating Blechschmidt's analogy. 4

Blechschmidt, E. 2004. The Ontogenetic Basis of Human Anatomy: A Biodynamic Approach to Development from Conception to Birth. B. Freeman, transl. New York: North Atlantic Books, 188.
Ibid, 108.
Sturniolo, G. et al. 1999. The Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Related to Thyroid Surgery. The American Journal of Surgery. 177: 487-488.
Steinberg, J. L., G. J. Khane, C. M. C. Fernanades and J. P. Nel. 1986. Anatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: A redescription. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 100: 919.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

Cofty, you have an obsession with copy and paste. I did not copy and paste. I looked it up in the printed edition, the emphasis being on the embryology. I don't intimidate by textbook. By the way, I don't see you listing your sources all the time. Why do you expect it of others then?

What research did you do in the study of of the origin of eukariotic cells? You read a few books. Same here. So let's not dwell on it.

Fish ancestors and the tree of life. Again, that is funny. From fish to man. I just don't see it, even after millions of years.

As I mentioned, the laryngeal nerve, aorta and vas deferens works well. All of these designs contributed to the survival of the species. Why I mentioned embryology, all the above must be packaged in embryonal form first. Gradually these will be rolled out in an orderly manner in a healthy embryo. Most of these "impracticle" designs could be traced back to embryology and the deposit of stem cells. One should not only examine the end product, but also where it comes from.

Take my word for it, we are brilliantly designed. When I look at history, I marvel at the fact that man has survived all the adversities thrown at him. I believe one should only criticize a design if and when one can improve on it. So far I don't see any improvements by the geneticists. If its not broken, it's not necessary to fix it.

It's late. Time for bed.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

Wrong again. Try Gray's Anatomy, 35th edition.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

Let me see, a logical fallacy is “a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound arguments” (Oxford). Thanks for that. Actually I notice quite a few of those in Cofty’s threads dealing with evolution. Really, to use the working of the mitochondria of bacteria to prove the origin of our mitochondria, now that is funny.

Cofty, your book argument is boring. You’ll have to try another approach to intimidate me. That one doesn’t work. Anyway, you have a short memory. You may not remember, but I am a qualified Medical Microbiologist with Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology as majors. Yes, I have a lot of books dealing with those subjects. I had to work through all of them to pass those subjects.

Clue: Follow the migration of the testes, then you will be able to work out the connections. See where the testes originate from. See where they go. The spermatic cord follows that path.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

Let's start with embryology. The gonads start as primordial germ cells.They are identified after the fourth week of development. The descent of the testes is not merely a simple migration. At first it lies on the dorsal abdominal wall, but as it enlarges, its cranial end degenerates, and the organ therefore assumes a more caudal position. It is attached to the mesonephric fold by a peritoneal fold. The undifferentiated gonad contains the testicular vessels and nerves. At the end of the second month the caudal part of the ventral abdominal wall is horizontal but, after the return of the intestines to the peritoneal cavity, it grows in length and becomes vertical.The caudal pole of the testes is retained in apposition with the deep inguinal ring by the gubernaculum until the seventh month, when it suddenly and rapidly passes passes through the inguinal canal and gains the scrotum. As it descends it is necessarily accompanied by its peritoneal covering, and the adjoining peritoneum from the iliac fossa is drawn down into the processus vaginalis. The distal end of the processus vaginalis, into which the testes projects, forms the tunica vaginalis testis, but the portion associated with the spermatic cord in the scrotum and in the inguinal canal normally becomes obliterated. The fascial coverings of the testis and spermatic cord, including the cremaster, are developed from the gubernaculum testis. The testis must follow the processus vaginalis, and should the latter for any reason follow any but the scrotal bundle of the gubernaculum, malposition of the testis will result.

So yes, it has to do with the development of the testis in the embryo. I believe a template of life was originally established. The same template was used to create life, and adapted to the different life forms, thus the similarities in structure. The whole process was carefully designed and put together by a superior intelligence. Life was no accident.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

Its called the concept of design. Its simple. A house needs an architect and a builder. It doesn't appear out of the blue. It was designed by somebody. It was built by somebody. That's not to complicated, is it? A living cell is much more complex. It also needs a designer and a builder. I know, evolutionists struggle with the concept. Sorry about that.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

Cofty, imagine your illustration of the TV entertainment centre developing by itself over millions of years. Even if it did develop by itself, do you think the wires would be able to plug themselves into the correct sockets for it to work. Impossible you might say. Well what you are discussing is infinitesimaly more complex. Do you really believe the reproductive system of living things came about by itself and then merged to improve itself? Now this concept needs a huge leap of faith. By the way, man with the most advanced laboratories, cannot replicate a sperm or egg cell, much less a gonad. If they could, the need for fertility clinics would become something of the past.

47

Evolution is a Fact #37 - Testicles

by cofty in

take a look at the back of your tv/entertainment centre.

a mass of power and signal cables connect the various pieces of equipment in very specific ways.

imagine you wanted to switch the locations of your satellite receiver and your dvd player.

Vidqun

No Cofty, as I said before, if you believe this you believe anything. This huge "blunder" by the Creator actually works very well, as the existence of over six billion people testifies. Talking of dishonesty, the title of all your "Evolution is a fact"-threads are dishonest. There's a book by Stephen Jay Gould called "The Structure of Evolutionary Theory." He discusses the process as a theory. So, no, evolution is not a fact, its a theory. And by the way, Gould was Professor of Zoology at Harvard. Above work was published in 2002.

What you have been discussing, is "adaptation" and "natural selection," e.g., Lenski's E.coli experiments. Everything you describe screams design of extraordinary brilliance. Also, Darwin never described his theory as evolution. He spoke of "descent with modification." At the time the word evolution was used to describe Haller's embryology theory. Haller chose the term carefully, for Latin evolvere means to unroll. Later the term was expropriated from the vernacular, and embodied the concept of progressive development.