Melott Replies: Science and religion can validly interact in some ways. Science can comment usefully on such issues as the age of the Shroud of Turin, the parting of the Red Sea, or genetic studies of alleged lost tribes of Israel. These are all related to religion. In turn, religious (or antireligious) interpretations of science may add meaning or provide the values needed to judge technological possibilities. Problems arise when either sphere, science or religion, pretends to constrain the other, because miracles and empiricism don’t mix well.
Beware of using the presence of junk DNA to judge intelligent design. In fact, much so-called junk DNA has been found to have a biological function; ID proponents call this support for their position.
