This Article: (8 Pages)
- 1. Honey Bees challenge Evolution
- 2. Bees are Irreducibly Complex
- 3. Non-Reducible Interdependence
- 4. Arguments for Intelligent Design
- 5. Intelligent Design Supports a... Creator's Existence
- 6. Design and Nature: by a qualified... Architect
- 7. The Golden Ratio in Plants
- 8. The Golden Ratio an argument for... design in nature
4) Arguments for Intelligent Design
The beehive displays complex mathematics and engineering. The precision of the angles in the honeycomb have long stunned experts. The economy shown in the choice of the hexagonal shape of the cells rather than a triangular or square shape surely displays thoughtful planning and design to gain the maximum volume and value of honey for the amount of wax required in the construction process of the comb. The slight slope of the tubes prevents unnecessary loss of the honey. The society in the hive is complex, with every bee assigned its special role. Not only does the bee collect nectar, it produces wax and proceeds to build the wax cells with utmost skill and accuracy.
The bee interacts with the requirements of the human race by pollinating crops to enable the production of essential food to ensure the survival of the human race. This creates a complex interdependence between this insect and humans. The bee is perfectly designed for its role, even to the design of appropriate features that will create an electrostatic charge that enables the ease of collection of pollen. Whether he/she knows it or not, each person is very dependent on bees in the production of our food. Bees have an inner barometer by which they know when it will rain, thus ensuring the survival of this species, which is so important to man's survival. In time of drought the survival of the bee is threatened as it depends on plant life, demonstrating the inter-dependence of insect and plant. If one fails, the other is threatened.
Darwin found the bee a difficult issue to deal with and had no answer to offer. The whole network and process involved in the production of honey and fertilisation of plants is beyond the replication of the brightest and best of the brains of mankind. It demonstrates a brilliant and intelligent design process to ensure the existence and survival of life on this earth.
THE HUMMINGBIRD of America likes the nectar of the fuchsia. The bird's long bill probes deeply into the flowers narrow tube of petals and the pollen sticks to the bill and feathers and is carried off to fertilise the next blossom. Living on the nectar are tiny mites that hitch a ride on the bill of the bird to the next flower. The fuchsia plant's design generally excludes other nectar feeders such as bees because of its design. The bird and the flower are a perfect match and together with those tiny mites show a remarkable display of interdependence as an irreducibly complex system, by which all three survive.
In other places, where the plant is unsuitable for the bee, the nectar is the food source for other birds and animals, which can cross pollinate plants. The honeyeater in Australia, Pacific Islands and New Zealand is a small green, grey, brown, red or black forest bird that feeds from flowers by rolling their long tongues into tubes and sucking up the nectar. Travelling from flower to flower, the pollen can be dispersed. In a similar way the honeycreepers in Hawaii have long curved bills to probe plants for nectar.
The bee and honey eating birds show the interdependence that exists among species in the natural world, reflecting intelligent design. The bee and the honey eating birds, and also some animals not discussed here, combine to ensure the survival of plants in an increasingly complex network of intelligent design in the natural world.
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