Re: topmind: ID is potentially testable

As for DNA-ID, there seems to be no scientific research program,
methodologically rigorous or otherwise, unless you count the tests
done in this thread and genome research done for other purposes.

Again, I am currently addressing "testable" at this point, not
"tested".

You haven't even begun to address "testable." If you want "DNA-ID" to
be testable, let alone scientific, you need to clearly and precisely
answer some core questions, including:

What empirical observations lead to your hypothesis?

A. Some bioligical critters share many traits in common with machines
and technology (list already given).
B. We can put messages in DNA and distribute them across the galaxy, so
too may aliens. (Note that B does not necessarily rely on A).

B is very similar to SETI: "We leak radio into space, and thus so may
aliens." (There is the small diff between "did" and "could", but nobody
has proposed this as the final separator yet.)

What is your hypothesis?

That intelligent beings may have created or manipulated DNA, leaving
signals/messages that we may be able to detect.

This is similar to SETI's.


How does your hypothesis derive from the empirical
observations?

Tell me how SETI's does, and I can replace a few words to answer your
question in your own funny little garage-band definition of science.

What predictions can be made based on your hypothesis?

That detectable messages or artifacts may be in DNA. Note the
similarity to SETI's: "That there may be detectable messages/signals
coming from space."

How can those predictions be tested?

Sifting DNA similar to how SETI sifts the sky.

How would a negative result of those tests falsify your
hypothesis?

Absolute falsifiablity is NOT a requirement for science. We've been
over this already I and stand by my logic.

It is asking far too much to ask that one prove that X never happened
anywhere at anytime. At best we can rule out X happening to specific
SPOTS. The spot reduction is true of evolution, SETI, and DNA-ID.

For example, SETI can rule out narrow-band radio broadcasts eminating
from Vega between 2:30am and 8:21pm. Simiarly, DNA-ID can rule out
surviving sequential prime digits of length L being placed/present in
E.Coli specimen 47232.

Specific spots can be ruled out, but not entire concepts or existences.
Thus, absolute falsifiability is unrealistic and impractical. If so,
please tell me how evolution can be absolutely ruled out. What test
would show that it never happened anywhere at anytime?

Also remember that DNA-ID and evolution are not necessarily
mutually-exclusive. Only zealot versions of ID are. I am not checking
the zealot versions here.

P.S. Get a real handle. Stealing and melding other's handles is
confusing to readers and an immature ploy. Jesus wouldn't steal handles
:-)

-T-

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: topmind: ID is potentially testable
    ... "An alien left a message in DNA" ... understand if you want to practice science. ... SETI speculates that *if* aliens do things a certain way, ... Evolution cannot be falsified because it is a fact that it happens. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: DNA = Information
    ... Sorry but you cannot claim that DNA has information and at the same time ... If SETI ... GOODNESS IS A VIRTUE) is implausible. ... However it has nothing to do with the reality of evolution. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Seanpit, ID and complexity
    ... same basis as the SETI research he himself is doing. ... radiosignals vs. DNA). ... Shostak isn't searching for design. ... Don't you think that nature is capable or producing ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: topmind: ID is potentially testable
    ... start with the Wikipedia entry on Evolution and follow the links from ... science" accusations more seriously. ... it's not just the appearance of rabbits in the old ... Those appear to be papers by the people who support/run SETI, ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Developing a focused set of questions for IDists - Comments encouraged
    ... The SETI people have at least outlined what they are looking ... discovered a message in DNA? ... SETI has *not* specified sure-shot criteria for determining ... and then look for the pattern in the sequence. ...
    (talk.origins)
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