Molecular machines are nanoscale structures capable of controlled movements, mimicking mechanical functions and playing crucial roles in biological processes and synthetic applications. Molecular machines support creation in many ways, such as their complexity and precision, their known engineering principles, and unchanged design.
Complexity and Precision
Molecular machines are very similar to engineered devices; their precision must be positioned with atomic level precision which is nearly impossible without a creator. They also convert chemical and light energy into motion.
What are some examples of molecular machines?
The two most notable examples of molecular machines are ATP synthase and ribosomes. ATP synthases are proteins that create ATP which is essentially the main energy currency of a cell. ATP is used in our body for muscle contraction, brain activity, and active transport in cells. Ribosomes are miniature structures that create proteins inside cells. DNA gives the ribosomes genetic instructions that the ribosomes use to create proteins.
Engineering Principles
Both ATP synthase and ribosomes act very similar to complex machines. ATP synthase acts like a nanoscale motor because of its rotating parts, a shaft, and catalytic sites but most importantly ATP synthases are extremely efficient. Ribosomes are very unique because they read the genetic code given to them by DNA. Then the mRNA (which comes from DNA) acts like instructions, the tRNA like a delivery system, and lastly, the amino acids like building blocks.
To fully grasp how incredible this is let me put this in perspective. For one gram of synthetic DNA it is estimated that it would be able to fit 215 million gigabytes of storage. Most phones hold 16-250 gigabytes of storage and phones weigh 140-240 grams. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the phone with the most storage it weighs 232 grams and has 250 gigabytes. So, the ratio of gigabytes per gram for the most storage phone is only just over one gigabyte to a gram. But DNA is 215 million gigabytes to one gram.
One of our most complex machines doesn’t even come close to the complexity of DNA or any molecular machines.
Highly Conserved Design
If evolution were true, you would assume that the designs would vary because they are slowly evolving. However, this is not the case. In bacteria, plants and animal’s ribosomes use the same core functions and are very similar in structure.
Conclusion
“Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.” – Richard Dawkins.
Richard Dawkins, a renowned atheist claims in his book called “The Blind Watchmaker” that creation appears designed for a purpose. Molecular machines are too complex to just appear out of thin air they had to have a creator. If these molecular machines appear like engineered machines, wouldn’t we assume they are engineered? In other words, have you ever stumbled upon a machine that was created by chance? As in, nothing created a very efficient complex machine that is essential to our lives. Science must be observable and we have never observed machines being created without intelligent design. So, why would we make an exception here?