INTRODUCTION

The theory of evolution was put forward by the naturalist Charles Darwin in the middle of the 19th century, when the level of science and technology was rather primitive,  compared with today's. Nineteenth-century scientists worked in relatively simple laboratories. With the very unsophisticated equipment available to them, scientists couldn't even see bacteria. Moreover, they were still under the influence of many false beliefs left over from the Middle Ages.

One of these misconceptions was that living organisms had a fundamentally simple structure—a belief that can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who wrote that life could come about spontaneously and coincidentally, as a result of inorganic matter assembling itself in a moist environment.

In developing his theory, Darwin drew on the assumption that living things had only a simple structure. Other biologists who later adopted and defended Darwin's theory shared this same belief. For example, from the view of cells that 19th century microscopes provided, Ernst Haeckel, Darwin's greatest supporter in Germany, believed that a cell was a "simple little lump of albuminous combination of carbon," not much different from a piece of microscopic jello. (John Farley, The Spontaneous Generation Controversy from Descartes to Oparin, 2nd ed., Baltimore:The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979, p. 73)

The theory of evolution was based upon this and other similar presumptions. Authors of the theory like Haeckel, Darwin, and Huxley believed that because life was made up of very simple structures, it could come about by itself, randomly. But they were wrong, of course.

During the past 150 years, from Victorian times until now, both science and technology have made enormous strides. Scientists have discovered the real structure of what Haeckel described as being a "simple little lump." They have been amazed to see that the cell is not remotely as simple as was once believed, but contains a number of  unimaginably complex systems that could never have been conceived of, much less understood, in Darwin's day.

In explaining the structure of the cell, Professor Michael Denton, the famous molecular biologist, makes this analogy:

To grasp the reality of life as it has been revealed by molecular biology, we must magnify a cell a thousand million times until it is twenty kilometers in diameter and resembles a giant airship large enough to cover a great city like London or New York. What we would then see would be an object of unparalleled complexity and adaptive design. On the surface of the cell we would see millions of openings, like the port holes of a vast space ship, opening and closing to allow a continual stream of materials to flow in and out. If we were to enter one of these openings we would find ourselves in a world of supreme technology and bewildering complexity... (Michael Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, London: Burnett Books, 1985, p. 328)

This book will introduce the miracles of creation in the living cell, a miniature masterpiece that possesses a much more complicated and wondrous system than a giant spaceship's. We will show how the organelles inside the cell, together with the enzymes, proteins and other substances that it produces, perform purposeful functions that could never be expected of them. We'll give examples of the literally trillions of cells to be found in the human body, each of which displays superhuman intelligence and wisdom. Once again, we remind ourselves how all of this cannot be merely an unconscious coincidence, but is a product of God.

Proofs of God's creation, and manifestations of His superior power, wisdom and artistry are everywhere. Wherever we turn, we come face to face with God's creations that move us to exalt Him with glorification.

One reason why this book concentrates on the cell in particular is once again to present the truth to those who deny God by claiming that life is only a result of coincidence. Living things are too complex, too infinitely detailed to have come about as the result of happenstance. It's clear that they were created by a superior Mind and Power. Also, this book aims to explain the superiority manifest in God's creation and to glorify Him thereby.

INTELLIGENT DESIGN, IN OTHER WORDS CREATION

In order to create, God has no need to design

It's important that the word "design" be properly understood. That God has created a flawless design does not mean that He first made a plan and then followed it. God, the Lord of the Earth and the heavens, needs no "designs" in order to create. God is exalted above all such deficiencies. His planning and creation take place at the same instant.

Whenever God wills a thing to come about, it is enough for Him just to say, "Be!" As verses of the Qur'an tell us: His command when He desires a thing is just to say to it, "Be!" and it is. (Qur'an, 36: 82)

[God is] the Originator of the heavens and Earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Qur'an, 2: 117)

BELIEF IN DARWINISM REQUIRES ABANDONING LOGIC AND WISDOM

All of the cells in your body multiply by division. During this process, the DNA in the cell's nucleus needs to be copied too. The process of DNA replication takes place without fault, in a regular, most organized and disciplined way that strikes awe in attentive observers.

The DNA molecule, containing a miniaturized data bank of three billion letters, is like a ladder that has twisted around itself to form a helix. At the beginning of replication, the enzyme DNA helicase first approaches the DNA molecule and starts to unwind the helix, just as in the opening of a zipper. The twin strands of DNA in the helix, formerly wound around each other, separate as a result.  DNA helicase is always ready to perform its duty on time, without any fault, without becoming confused or making the slightest mistake, and without damaging the DNA in any way.

Then it's the turn of another enzyme, DNA polymerase. Its duty is to complete each unwound strand of the DNA with a second one. In order to do so, it must locate and bring the organizing information appropriate for each strand. But wait! An enzyme, made up only of atoms and molecules, cannot be expected to have any knowledge, consciousness, or mind of its own. Yet it can identify the type of information needed to complete the half-strand of DNA and then, locate the necessary components, wherever they may be in the cell, and bring them to where they're needed. During this entire process, it doesn't make the slightest mistake. It identifies, one by one, the three billion letters  in order to  complete the strand of DNA correctly. At the same time, another polymerase enzyme works on the DNA's other strand and completes it in the same way. And while all this is taking place, "helix stabilizing" enzymes hold apart the two strands of DNA to prevent them from winding back around each other. 

During this process of DNA replication, many enzymes work with military discipline to carry out processes that require knowledge and cognition. If you were given a script containing three billion letters and were asked to type it over, you couldn't possibly copy it without making mistakes. You would certainly make at least one mistake somewhere, by skipping a line or at least, a letter or two. Yet these enzymes complete a comparable process repeatedly, without making any such errors.

Darwinists claim that all of these enzymes, the information contained in the DNA's billions of letters, the process of DNA replication, and this entire faultless organization came about as the result of a string of coincidences. Evolutionists' belief in this unbelievable—in fact, impossible—assumption is a significant mistake that needs serious consideration. The sole reason for evolutionists' blind faith in this highly illogical theory is their commitment to materialism, together with their resolve to deny the existence of God.

DNA, the molecule found in the cell's nucleus, is the body's information bank. Therefore, before any one cell divides in order to become two, it must first make a duplicate copy of its DNA. DNA is in the shape of a helix. In order for it to be copied, many enzymes—again produced according to the information in the DNA—carry out processes displaying the utmost intelligence and organization. Before DNA is replicated, enzymes called helicase arrive to unwind the DNA helix, much as one would open a zipper. The orange shapes show this enzyme's actions. In order to prevent the two unwound DNA strands from winding back around each other, helix stabilizing enzymes (shown in green in the diagram) anchor the two strands in place. At this point, enzymes called DNA polymerase start attaching appropriate pieces of information onto each strand, to form two DNA helixes. In these diagrams, the yellow shapes represent the DNA polymerase enzyme, which carries out the replication process. As a result of the faultless cooperation and disciplined, intelligent processes of these unconscious molecules, DNA is copied perfectly, with no errors.

THE DEVICE IN YOUR BODY THAT CAN COPY A MILLION PAGES OF INFORMATION IN TWENTY MINUTES

It's long been known that cells multiply by division. During this process, the DNA found in the nucleus of each cell needs to be copied for each new "daughter" cell. During this process of replication, an amazing event takes place that requires consideration. DNA's data bank, made up of three billion letters, is able to store massive amounts of information concerning the living organism. To write down all the information contained in DNA would require an encyclopaedia of approximately 1,000 volumes, with a total of a million pages. Therefore, the replication of DNA and the copying of a million-page encyclopaedia are comparable. But do you know how long this process of DNA replication takes? Between 20 and 80 minutes! Now, that means that the equivalent of one million pages of writing can be copied, with no mistakes or deficiencies, in a period of less than two hours—and sometimes, under a half hour.  No photocopier or any other technological device available today can complete this copying process faultlessly, in such a short period of time. And consider that no technological machines are carrying out this process, but cells that we cannot even see with the naked eye. Now ask yourself: Who possesses the power and mind, will and knowledge to bring about this amazing organization? What realizes that the DNA must be copied when a cell divides? What brings about this replication in the fastest, most perfect way, and which allows for any mistakes to be fixed immediately? Clearly, it's illogical and senseless to claim that this whole complex, faultless and perfect system came about as a result of coincidence. Bring together all of the atoms in the universe, under the proper conditions, and still you won't be able to create the system that carries out the replication of DNA in every living organism. It is quite obvious that the One Who created this perfect system, Who has continued to create it for millions of years is God, the Possessor of infinite knowledge, consciousness, and power.

THE PERFECTION OF DNA CONTRADICTS THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION

In one molecule of human DNA, there exists enough information to fill a million-page encyclopaedia. But the order in this information is also vitally important. Ask yourself whether hundreds of letters tossed about at random could possibly come together to form a coherent news article.

Could millions of these same letters arrange themselves together perfectly and appropriately as to form an entire newspaper? Can anyone claim this is all a product of blind coincidence? According to Darwinist understanding, it's possible for all these amazing events to come about coincidentally.

Darwinism thinks that it has deceived all the world's populace like little children. This ideology presents coincidence as having divine consciousness, and asserts that it somehow possesses an amazing genius and greater knowledge than all the people in the world.

According to evolutionists, time is the only thing necessary for this "genius" called coincidence to shape the brains of all  those humans  who have lived over thousands of years.

And not their brains only, but their minds, their capacity for thought, their reasoning, memory, and hundreds of other physical and spiritual attributes.

If provided with matter and enough time, coincidence has the power to create people, ants, horses, giraffes, peacocks, butterflies, figs, olives, oranges, peaches, pomegranates, watermelons, tomatos, bananas, tulips, violets, strawberries, orchids, roses and hundreds of thousands of other living things you cannot even think of. Obviously this entire claim is nothing but nonsense. The Creator of all things is God.

They do not measure God with His true measure. God is All-Strong, Almighty.
(Qur'an, 22: 74)

THE SHAPE OF CELLS REFUTES THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION

There are approximately 200 different types of cells in your body, yet they differ from one another in only the slightest of ways. One of the most important differences is shape. Although nerve cells, muscle cells, and blood cells all have the same basic DNA, it is thanks to their perfect individual shapes that they function with the utmost efficiency in the region of the body where they carry out their duties.

Two examples of cells with different shapes are nerve cells and blood cells. Nerve cells have long extensions, called axons, from the spinal cord to the feet that can reach up to one meter in length in humans. This way, when stimuli pass from one cell to another, there is no time lost. The impulses pass directly to where they are going.

Red blood cells, called erythrocytes, however, contrary to nerve cells, are only about 7-8 micrometers in diameter. The very fact of their being so tiny means that they penetrate the smallest of capillaries with ease, and without getting deformed. In addition, their biconcave shape maximizes the surface area across which oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide. If you consider that there are millions of these cells in one cubic millimeter of blood, it won't be hard for you to estimate the massive surface area on which this exchange of gases is carried out.

Cells in the eye and ear are also specialized in regards to shape. The cochlea, inside the inner ear, contains sensory cells which have hairlike projections that produce nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations in the middle ear. Somewhat similarly, light-sensitive cells of the retina in the eye have also been designed to perform their function in the best way possible. The cone cells in the retina contain many light-sensitive pigments, as well as a layer containing nerve connections. This organization gives the cone cells a very high sensitivity to light.

In the small intestine, too, there are nutrient-absorbing cells with the appropriate shape to perform their special functions. The lining of the small intestine is covered by millions of fingerlike projections called villi. On each villus are microvilli which are even tinier. The combination of these projections increases the surface area for digestion and absorption of nutrients. 

Never forget that all of the billions of cells in the human body came about from the division of just one original cell, which originated from the union of sperm and egg. To think that each of these cells chose their individual shapes and then somehow assumed the shape of a body is totally illogical. This all shows clearly that cells are created in the most efficient ways to carry out their functions. That is, they are created by God, the Possessor of infinite wisdom and intelligence.

HOW CAN CELLS RECOGNIZE ONE ANOTHER?

In high school or at college, we've studied how human beings are formed. In its first stages, the embryo is a formless piece of tissue. But as it continues to develop, some cells form the arms, some the inner organs, and a few are set aside for the eyes.

Every cell "knows" where it must go, which organ it will form, to what degree it should multiply, and when to stop dividing. But the following extract provides another amazing fact about the embryo's development:

If we separate the cells of the embryo that belong to different organs—by decreasing the amount of calcium in the environment—and then later on, mix these cells together in a suitable environment, we find that on coming into contact once again, the cells that belong to the same organs recognizeeach other and form distinct groups of cells that belong to the same organs. (Ahmet Noyan, Yasamda ve Hekimlikte Fizyoloji (Physiology in Life and Medicine), 10th ed., Ankara:Meteksan Publications, 1998, p. 40)

That is, if cells are first separated from each other, then brought together again, the cells that make up the same organs recognize each other and reassemble themselves again.

But how can these cells, which have no brain or nervous system, no eyes or no ears, recognize each other?

How do these substances, formed from some molecules with no brain or consciousness, recognize their own type of cell out of a group?

How can they know that they will later unite to form an organ? What is the source of the obvious consciousness displayed by these unconscious molecules?

The source of their consciousness is God, the Lord of the worlds, Who created the whole universe out of nothing.

We will show them Our signs on the horizon and within themselves until it is clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough for your Lord that He is a witness of everything?
(Qur'an, 41: 53)

EXPOUNDING EVIDENCE OF GOD'S EXISTENCE CAN FREE PEOPLE FROM IRRELIGIOUS BELIEFS

On some cells are found cilia that resemble eyelashes and facilitate movement. They are composed of highly complex structures. Right: The microtubules making up each cilium. Below: This cross section of a cilium shows the intertwined double ring structure.

According to the Darwinist claims, all living things result from spontaneous coincidences. But the thousands of complex systems in our bodies deny this nonsense of "coincidence." One example is the hairlike structures whose sole duty is to allow the cell to move and which, in turn, consist of thousands of minute details.

Some cells move by the use of short, microscopic structures, called cilia, that resemble eyelashes. For example, each of the stationary cells in the respiratory tract possesses hundreds of cilia. By moving together all at the same time, just like the oars on a racing scull, these structures enable the cell to move forward.

* When a cross section of a cilium is cut, it can be seen to be very organized and made up of a ring of nine doublet microtubules around the periphery and two singlet microtubules in the middle.

* Each of the doublet microtubules has a ring with 13 microfilaments and another one with 11 microfilaments.

* The microtubules are made of a protein called "tubulin."

* The microtubules also have two extensions, an outer arm and an inner arm, both made of a protein called "dynein." This protein's function is to act as a motor for the cilia and provide mechanical strength.

* Molecules making up the tubulin protein virtually line up together like bricks to form cylindrical structures. However, the organization of the tubulin molecules is much more complex than the laying of bricks.

* There are ten short extensions on the top and ten cavities on the bottom of each tubulin. These cavities and extensions have been created to fit snugly inside each other, thus creating a very sound structure. Even the slightest defect in the very special design of these cavities or extensions will result in damage to the cell.

All these components that we've summarized briefly and simply compose just one single cilium; and its sole aim is to move just that one cell, out of the trillions of cells in your body. Such an extensive system exists in every cell of the respiratory system of everyone who has ever lived and of every person alive today. Moreover, this complex system made up of many different parts is the substructure of a cilium on a cell we can't even see with our eyes. You can grasp how small this area is by the following comparison: Fitting all of the details explained above into one of the hairs on your head would be so complex that our brains couldn't comprehend it. But the cilia of the cell we're talking about have just such an incomparably small substructure.

In short, God has placed a most systematic and complex mechanism in a place too small for our eyes to see. It's totally impossible for "coincidence" to think about moving a cell and fitting such a system in so small an area. This is possible only with the superior and infinite mind, knowledge and power of God.