Over at Immunoblogging, Joseph has a multi-post series on the evolution of the immune system that I’ve been meaning to highlight, since obviously the claim that there’s no research done in this area plays a large part in IDists’ claims. So, some background reading on a few of the issues:
Part One Part Two Part Three and a bonus (if a bit older) post on Toll-like receptors here, along with a newer overview here.
Additionally, at the new Good Math, Bad Math, MarkCC discusses Dembski’s (mis)use of the NFL theorem and creationist use of probability. Check ‘em out.
[david spade] Uh, yeah, Tara, I liked this post the first time, when it was at Respectful Insolence [/spade]
[david spade] Uh, yeah, Steve, I liked that post the zeroth time, when it was at Dispatches [/spade]
:) I know, I know, but not everyone here reads Orac [or Dispatches–ed. TS] (to their detriment, of course.)
I checked all those links and didn’t find anything about RAG1 or RAG2.
I was discussing the origin of the Major Histocompatibility Complex or MHC. Being able to differentiate what is your own ‘self’ cells is somewhat more important as a start to the immune system. I do intend to write more about RAG and GOD systems (yes, that’s Recombinase Activation Genes and Generation Of Diversity ;)) in the future.
I’m a little busy with badgers at the moment.
Badgers? We don’t need no stinking badgers!
Although, now I think of it Complex Medium covered a paper that was in PNAS on RAG1 and RAG2 here if you would like to read something about it.
Also there is this article from Andrea Bottaro directly at the Pandas Thumb that covers RAG1 and RAG2 evolution as well.
Update