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Bees, Shells and Design in Nature

7th July 2008, mgh,hej

 

3) Non-Reducible Interdependence

This intricate and complex system makes the honey bees one of the most efficient food gatherers on the earth. This highly organised system requires all participants to operate in their sphere simultaneously, and communicate to others, or the whole operation cannot function. It is an amazing network of interdependence, where the failure of one unit would lead to the failure of the entire system.

In this regard it would be most difficult to apply an evolutionary theory. Without the worker bees the larvae don't survive and without the foragers the whole hive cannot function. Where would the evolutionary process begin? Each operator in the system is essential as each has a very specific function. If we take the starter motor out of a car, it does not go. In the same way, take away any of the players in a hive and it will soon perish. This immediately leads us to the conclusion that all features of the hive had to be designed simultaneously.

If the irreducible complexity of the hive is not enough of a challenege to the idea of their occurrence by chance, nectar and pollen also had to be available at the same time. This argues for intelligent design for the survival of, not only the honey bees, but also for many plants.

Humans's dependence on the bee

The bee's activity is essential for pollination of the crops for staple human foods. Some farmers keep bees purely for pollination purposes. The degree to which bees are essential is shown by the fact that in the U.S.A. bees pollinate approximately 130 crops, such as fruit, fibre, nut and vegetable. Cultivated crops in the U.S. benefit to the value of about $10 billion from bee pollination.

Honey itself is also an amazing substance. Being so sweet, bacteria does not grow in honey. It is a nourishing food source for humans. There is a curious incident recorded in the Bible in Judges 14, where Samson eats honey from a honey-comb in the carcase of a lion. It is the peculiar property of honey that even in the presence of corruption it remains bacteria and contaminant free.

The bee presents to us an amazing example of intelligent and complex design, which incorporates the interdependence of a network of plants, insects, crops and ultimately man's survival. If there is a breakdown in any element of this network, the production of food for man and animals is at risk.

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