Amazing design of life: ATPase engine

A few years back I was visiting with my neighbor about a new discovery in biology.  She is a professor of entomology at Arizona State University, so I’m fairly certain she was politely listening to a layman stumble his way through an explanation. 

“I was wondering if you had read about the molecular engine regulating energy in the cell,” I asked.  “It apparently has an engine block and two or three cylinders and it’s in the format of a rotary engine.”

While she hadn’t heard of it, she seemed interested. 

“I think it regulates the ATPase [pronounced A – T – P – aze] molecule,” I said, as if I knew what I was talking about.  I proudly pronounced ATPase correctly, I think, because another scientist friend already had gently corrected my lame mispronunciation.  “I don’t really know what that is, but I think it has something to do with regulating energy flow in the cell.”

Yes, she agreed, that’s a real basic understanding of ATPase. 

“Well, apparently there’s this engine with an engine block, two or three cylinders, and a drive shaft, that is the smallest known engine.  In fact, supposedly it’s the smallest possible engine given the laws of physics,” I went on. 

“Oh,” she said, now really interested.  “When was it invented?”

“Not invented,” I said.  “Discovered.  This engine is in the membranes of mitochondria.  It occurs ‘naturally’ in living organisms,” I concluded, using air quotes. 

My entomologist friend was duly impressed.  I’m impressed, too, to say the least . More like mind-blown! 

While the Creator's design of the universe as a whole is astonishing, His design of life goes beyond even this. His ingenuity, power, and care are displayed in living things, even at the tiniest, microscopic level.

This blog article is an excerpt from my book: Five Languages of Evidence: How to Speak about Reasons for Christianity in a Post-truth World.  Not yet published; available upon request. 

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