Dangers of Overselling Darwin

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jamesrwright3

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The dangers of allowing crackpots to write articles for your magazine:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/02/whats_the_matter_with_forbes.php

Nice namecalling. However, poor refutation of article. The guy was a professor at PSU and has a distinguished resume/research history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Skell


Philip Skell
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Philip S. Skell is an American chemist, emeritus Evan Pugh Professor at Pennsylvania State University, and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences (appointed in 1977).

During World War II, at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research and as a post-doc at the University of Illinois, Skell took part in the early work on the production of Penicillin.

At Penn State, Skell's field of research were then hypothetical very short-lived Reaction intermediates like free radicals, Carbonium ions, Tricarbon and Carbene, whose existence and properties he could demonstrate by use of Chemical traps. Applying new experimental techniques he was able to examine the chemical properties of single free atoms rather than atoms in compound. His contributions have been characterized as follows:

Another class of intermediates, containing divalent carbon atoms, were suggested by John Nef early in this century but his ideas were generally rejected. However, the concept was revived with vigor when Philip Skell showed that: CCl2, dichlorocarbone, was formed as a reaction intermediate. Carbene chemistry almost immediately became the subject of extensive physical organic research.[1]

Philip S. Skell, sometimes called "the father of carbene chemistry," is widely known for the "Skell Rule," which was first applied to carbenes, the "fleeting species" of carbon. The rule, which predicts the most probable pathway through which certain chemical compounds will be formed, found use throughout the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.[2]

Philip S. Skell is a signatory of A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism.
 
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Bombila

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James, the man is a reknowned chemist, a worthy profession which nevertheless does not qualify him as an authority on evolution, particularly the current understanding of modern evolutionary biology and microbiology.

Also, if you read the article, you'll note that there has been an ongoing controversy between Skell and evolutionists, and that Forbes has been offering a soapbox to a collection of DI 'luminaries', hence, 'crackpots', a term I think even CF will allow me to use:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/02/for_shame_forbes_magazine.php
 
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jamesrwright3

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James, the man is a reknowned chemist, a worthy profession which nevertheless does not qualify him as an authority on evolution, particularly the current understanding of modern evolutionary biology and microbiology.

Also, if you read the article, you'll note that there has been an ongoing controversy between Skell and evolutionists, and that Forbes has been offering a soapbox to a collection of DI 'luminaries', hence, 'crackpots', a term I think even CF will allow me to use:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/02/for_shame_forbes_magazine.php

Sorry, he is qualified to comment on evolutionary biology. If he isn't, then certainly you are not qualified to make any comments.
 
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sfs

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Sorry, he is qualified to comment on evolutionary biology.
Why? You've already posted a summary of his scientific achievements, which have nothing to do with evolution. Why should his comments on evolution carry any more weight than a taxi driver's?

If he isn't, then certainly you are not qualified to make any comments.
Unlike Skell, I actually study and publish on natural selection and evolution. His article has very little substance, and what there is is often wrong. His comments about studying the development of resistance, for example, display considerable ignorance about how developing resistance is studied by real biologists concerned with that phenomenon. For example, I work with a group studying malaria genetics, and in particular the development of drug resistance in malaria. We pay a great deal of attention to genetic signals that natural selection is occurring, since they can be a powerful clue about where in the genome the necessary mutations are taking place.
 
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Late_Cretaceous

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His entire premise seems to rest on the misconception that Evolutionary Theory rests entirely upon the fossil record. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The strongest evidence for evolution, including insights into lineages and the mechanisms for evolution, by far comes from DNA. This also includes the results of experimental science.

The fossil record provides fragmentary snapshots of life from long ago. It really offers no more insight into evolution besides historical lineages - and it is fragmentary at that.

Genetics provides us with a living, dynamic, testable and dramatic suite of evidence for evolution. Other sciences also provide evidence, including developmental biology, comparative anatomy, biochemistry, physiology.

One fact remains clear. More and more evidence mounts every year that supports and adds to evolutionary theory.
 
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TeddyKGB

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Sorry, he is qualified to comment on evolutionary biology. If he isn't, then certainly you are not qualified to make any comments.
Man, you guys never seem to learn when to shut up.
 
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sbvera13

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I'm not sure I'd put much faith in an academic who doesn't even do enough research to realize his argument has been made, addressed, and coutnered before. He doesnt' even correctly address the position of evolution, he misrepresents it entirely. I'd say his actions speak louder then his credentials.
 
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Hespera

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I'm not sure I'd put much faith in an academic who doesn't even do enough research to realize his argument has been made, addressed, and coutnered before. He doesnt' even correctly address the position of evolution, he misrepresents it entirely. I'd say his actions speak louder then his credentials.


It would be nice if there were a stronger code of ethics for professionals. Well, for everyone. Religion doesnt seem to accomplish it, nor do laws. Education doesnt either.

You see doctors hocking their quack weight loss formulas on tv.

There was a big scandal with a doctor who signed hundreds of medical certificates for patients he'd never even seen, to make money in an asbestos lawsuit.

There is that guy from MIT I guess, who went over to the dark side with that outlandish "hydroplate theory". I guess he has made money with it.

It sorta balances against the big name preachers who get caught with their pockets full of donations form little old ladies' social security checks, spending it on prostitutes and air conditioned doghouse.


If some reformed preacher decided he had it all wrong and now supports evolution and wants to go around getting people to pay for his telling about it, I wont have any more use for him than for some professor who shills for creationist pseudoscience.

Last kind of person I'd want for a spokesman for anything.
 
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TeddyKGB

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I think you were looking in the mirror when you typed this.
O because I'm looking at myself haha I see what you did there.

So this guy is qualified to comment on evolution because... you say so?... and because I'm mean? Here's where you present an actual argument if you have one.
 
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Hespera

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