Ode to the Eye

by Richard Peacock

Proponents of Intelligent Design use a lot of supercilious arguments against evolution, stating that, obviously, some adaptations are so complex that a supernatural being's design is the only explanation for its existence. This concept is referred to as "irreducible complexity" by ID-hero Michael Behe. One of his most commonly cited examples is the evolution of the eye, which, he claims, could have never evolved naturally because it's so complex. Of course, scientists know how the eye evolved, so I decided to detail it in this week's poem. Enjoy!

"Ode to the Eye"

Eye's evolution first begins in the Cambrian Explosion,
Though it was simply molecules which barely sensed effulgence.
Single-celled organisms used these proteins to detect
The surface of the ocean, for which direction to predilect.

When life became multi-celled, and continued to evolve,
The primitive proto-eye, too, developed right along.
The photosensitive proteins collected into light-detecting cells
Allowing basic shape discernment from the ocean's many perils.

Suddenly predators had a huge advantage when hunting for their prey,
So the prey were pressured to evolve an even better light-detecting way.
In biology, this scenario is termed an "evolutionary arms race"
As it speeds development of adaptations to many times its normal pace.

Very quickly true eyes evolved from these light-detecting cells,
Once they recessed into a pit to make them directional as well.
A clear covering over the top would one day become the lens,
But at the time it only served to keep precious fluids in.



The opening narrowed to a point, just like a pin-hole camera,
To project an image through the eye to what now we call the retina.
This gave prey the fine details of the dangers of their surroundings,
And predators the ability to hunt from distances astounding.

Some animals developed compound lenses to see in many directions,
While others moved their eyes with muscles to perform their inspections.
Spiders have eight simple eyes to solve the multi-directional problem,
While snail eyes sit on bending stalks to sense only basic movement.

The modern human eye's complexity leaves every scientist impressed,
But that doesn't mean it couldn't evolve through incremental steps.
And despite ID-proponents' claims that its complexity we cannot reduce,
Its evolution is easily traced from single-celled life to you.



The Multiverse is written by Richard Peacock, who generally doesn't know what he's talking about, and will gladly sacrifice scientific accuracy for the sake of a rhyme. Send rhyming complaints to richard@amateurscientist.org