--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no publication in the scientific…" description: "\"There is no publication in the scientific literature - in prestigious journals, specialty journals, or books - that describes how molecular evolution o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/michael-behe-14142_biology_there-is-no-publication-in-the-scientifi_3211593.jpg" --- # There is no publication in the scientific literature - in… ![“There is no publication in the scientific literature - in prestigious journals, specialty journals, or books - that describes how molecular evolution of any real, complex biochemical system either did occur or even might have occurred.” quote by Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/michael-behe-14142_biology_there-is-no-publication-in-the-scientifi_3211593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/michael-behe-14142_biology_there-is-no-publication-in-the-scientifi_3211593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/michael-behe-14142_biology_there-is-no-publication-in-the-scientifi_3211593.jpg) > “There is no publication in the scientific literature - in prestigious journals, specialty journals, or books - that describes how molecular evolution of any real, complex biochemical system either did occur or even might have occurred.” [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement claims that no scientific source details explains the origin of complex biochemical systems through molecular evolution. **In simple terms:** No literature describes how complex biochemistry evolved. Key Takeaway Question evolutionary explanations. Themes science evolution biology Mood skeptical inquisitive Type analytical critical When to use this quote - academic research - education - public policy - science communication Key Concepts philosophy of science skepticism Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports evolutionary mechanisms? - How do we address gaps in scientific knowledge? A Different Perspective The claim overlooks existing hypotheses and indirect evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Complex Biochemical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-biochemical-2340799/) [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Evolution Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution-real-495429/) [Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Molecular Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/molecular-evolution-5392985/) [Prestigious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prestigious/) [Publication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publication/) [Publication Scientific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publication-scientific-6002603/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-literature-344477/) [Specialty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specialty/) ## Related quotes > [Molecular evolution is not based on scientific authority. . . . There are assertions that such evolution occurred, but absolutely none are supported by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/molecular-evolution-is-not-based-on-scientific-authority-there-are/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [But sequence comparisons simply can't account for the development of complex biochemical systems any more than Darwin's comparison of simple and complex eyes told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/but-sequence-comparisons-simply-can-t-account-for-the-development-of/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [We can look high or we can look low in books or in journals, but the result is the same. The scientific literature has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/we-can-look-high-or-we-can-look-low-in-books-or-in-journals-but-the/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [“Some scientists thrive on the conceptual; their minds can envision particles that the most powerful microscopes can’t show us; processes that can’t be directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-bass/some-scientists-thrive-on-the-conceptual-their-minds-can-envision/) [William M. Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-bass/) > [“You want proof evolution is for real, don’t waste your time with fossils; just check out the New York City rat. They started out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/you-want-proof-evolution-is-for-real-don-t-waste-your-time-with/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [I doubt evolution is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-doubt-evolution-is-real/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The History of Evolution is the real source of light in the investigation of organic bodies. It is applicable at every step, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/the-history-of-evolution-is-the-real-source-of-light-in-the/) [Karl Ernst von Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/) > [I have to keep up with the scientific literature as part of my job, but increasingly I found myself reading things that weren't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-thompson/i-have-to-keep-up-with-the-scientific-literature-as-part-of-my-job/) [Ken Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-thompson/) > [Honestly, I feel you are poisoned if you read too much of the scientific literature because it makes you start thinking like other people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-betzig/honestly-i-feel-you-are-poisoned-if-you-read-too-much-of-the/) [Eric Betzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-betzig/) > [It is my sincere hope that Christopher Bryson's apparently thorough and comprehensive perusal of the scientific literature on the biological actions of fluoride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvid-carlsson/it-is-my-sincere-hope-that-christopher-bryson-s-apparently-thorough/) [Arvid Carlsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvid-carlsson/) > [Americans, they have an incredible operatic tradition: the Metropolitan Opera House is - if not the most prestigious - one of the most prestigious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/americans-they-have-an-incredible-operatic-tradition-the-metropolitan/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) > [Know you Were The Most Prestigious Trophy I Ever Had But Sometime Feel I Was The Game That You Played..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/know-you-were-the-most-prestigious-trophy-i-ever-had-but-sometime/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > ['L.A. Law' has been a bit of a blessing and a curse. First of all, it was a very prestigious show that had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/l-a-law-has-been-a-bit-of-a-blessing-and-a-curse-first-of-all-it-was/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [I've always done things that were good for me, whether they were viewed as being as prestigious or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/i-ve-always-done-things-that-were-good-for-me-whether-they-were/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Michael Behe > [As the number of unexplained, irreducibly complex biological systems increases, our confidence that Darwin's criterion of failure has been met skyrockets toward the maximum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/as-the-number-of-unexplained-irreducibly-complex-biological-systems/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [As commonly understood, creationism involves belief in an earth formed only about ten thousand years ago, an interpretation of the Bible that is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/as-commonly-understood-creationism-involves-belief-in-an-earth-formed/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [I find the idea of common descent (that all organisms share a common ancestor) fairly convincing, and have no particular reason to doubt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/i-find-the-idea-of-common-descent-that-all-organisms-share-a-common/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [Thus it seemed to Haeckel that such simple life could easily be produced from inanimate material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/thus-it-seemed-to-haeckel-that-such-simple-life-could-easily-be/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [Proteins are the machinery of living tissue that builds the structures and carries out the chemical reactions necessary for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/proteins-are-the-machinery-of-living-tissue-that-builds-the/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [I believe the evidence strongly supports common descent. But the root question remains unanswered: What has caused complex systems to form?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/i-believe-the-evidence-strongly-supports-common-descent-but-the-root/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [In private many scientists admit that science has no explanation for the beginning of life… Darwin never imagined the exquisitely profound complexity that exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/in-private-many-scientists-admit-that-science-has-no-explanation-for/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [The theory of undirected evolution is already dead, but the work of science continues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/the-theory-of-undirected-evolution-is-already-dead-but-the-work-of/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [Many people, including many important and well-respected scientists, just don't want there to be anything beyond nature. They don't want a supernatural being to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/many-people-including-many-important-and-well-respected-scientists/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [If you take away a rock from a pile of rocks you haven't changed much. It's still a heap of rocks - just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/if-you-take-away-a-rock-from-a-pile-of-rocks-you-haven-t-changed-much/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [It is often said that science must avoid any conclusions which smack of the supernatural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/it-is-often-said-that-science-must-avoid-any-conclusions-which-smack/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [The question is: exactly how did life get here? Was it by natural selection and random mutation or was it by something else? Everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/the-question-is-exactly-how-did-life-get-here-was-it-by-natural/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [Under my definition, a scientific theory is a proposed explanation which focuses or points to physical, observable data and logical inferences. There are many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/under-my-definition-a-scientific-theory-is-a-proposed-explanation/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [As can be seen even by this limited number of examples proteins carry out amazingly diverse functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/as-can-be-seen-even-by-this-limited-number-of-examples-proteins-carry/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [It is a shock to us in the twentieth century to discover, from observations science has made, that the fundamental mechanisms of life cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/it-is-a-shock-to-us-in-the-twentieth-century-to-discover-from/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) [Explore all 47 Michael Behe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) ## More Biology quotes > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/) [Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [“Toshiaki learned that all living organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by perfection of this system.Why did existence have the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideaki-sena/toshiaki-learned-that-all-living-organisms-were-governed-by-their-dna/) [Hideaki Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideaki-sena/) > [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [“A note of caution: epigenetics is also on the verge of transforming into a dangerous idea. Epigenetic modifications of genes can potentially superpose historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-note-of-caution-epigenetics-is-also-on-the-verge-of-transforming/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. 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