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Conversation Evolves: Richard Lenski Responds to Michael Behe

Richard Lenski, by Zachary Blount [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Darwin Devolves

Yesterday, Michael Behe published his detailed critique of the Science review of his book, Darwin Devolves. See, “Train Wreck of a Review: A Response to Lenski et al. in Science.” 

This morning, Nathan Lents, a co-author of the review, tweeted about a new post by Richard Lenski, by far the most distinguished of the three reviewers for Science, that does what the initial review itself largely failed to do: begin to address Behe’s main argument in the book.

Lenski asks, “Does Behe’s ‘First Rule’ Really Show that Evolutionary Biology Has a Big Problem?” Now that is the question of the hour. Lenski promises two additional posts as well. I’ll leave it to Professor Behe to respond, but I would say this is quite a departure — both for the respectful way in which it’s written, and for its substantive relevance. Yes, Nathan Lents, finally we agree: it is “A good day for thoughtful discussion of evolution.”

Photo: Richard Lenski, by Zachary Blount [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons.

David Klinghoffer

Senior Fellow and Editor, Evolution News
David Klinghoffer is a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and the editor of Evolution News & Science Today, the daily voice of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, reporting on intelligent design, evolution, and the intersection of science and culture. Klinghoffer is also the author of six books, a former senior editor and literary editor at National Review magazine, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Seattle Times, Commentary, and other publications. Born in Santa Monica, California, he graduated from Brown University in 1987 with an A.B. magna cum laude in comparative literature and religious studies. David lives near Seattle, Washington, with his wife and children.

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biologyDarwin DevolvesevolutionFirst Rule of Adaptive EvolutionMichael BeheNathan LentsPeaceful ScienceResponse to CriticismRichard LenskiS. Joshua SwamidassScience (journal)