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Michael Buratovich

By on September 15, 2015 in Faculty Publications

Buratovich, Michael. “Leaving the Fold: Darwin’s Doubt and the Evolution of Protein Folds.” Reports of the National Center for Science Education 35, no. 5 (2015).

Abstract: In an earlier article (Buratovich 2015), I examined one of the main arguments promulgated by Discovery Institute philosopher of science, Stephen Meyer, in his book Darwin’s Doubt (2013). Meyer maintains that the rapid diversification of animal life during the Cambrian “explosion” required the swift evolution of new genes that provided animals with the genetic information needed to form new cell types. In that article, I showed that not only does the fossil record show evidence of complex multicellular life well before the Cambrian explosion, but also sequenced genomes of modern sponges and cnidarians (corals, Hydra, and sea anemones) possess the genes necessary to build more complex animals, strongly suggesting that the ancestors of these creatures had all the genes necessary for the Cambrian explosion. Thus, it can be concluded that the increase in novel animal forms was due to innovative regulation of these genes during animal development rather than the evolution of new genes themselves.

Michael Buratovich

By on July 7, 2015 in Faculty Publications

Buratovich, Michael. “Where Are My Genes? Genomic Considerations on Darwin’s Doubt.” Reports of the National Center for Science Education 35, no. 4 (2015).

In his book Darwin’s Doubt (Meyer 2013), Discovery Institute philosopher of science and “intelligent design” proponent Stephen C Meyer makes some very unorthodox claims about animal origins. Evolutionary developmental biologists have shown over two decades of work that regardless of how animals look, most of them use a common “toolkit” of genes for their development. Furthermore, a respectable body of evidence shows that changes in animal body plans and body parts are driven by changes in gene regulation (Carroll 2000).

Michael Buratovich

By on March 31, 2015 in Faculty Publications

Amin, Amr and Michael Buratovich.”The Anti-Cancer Charm of Flavonoids: A Cup of Tea Will Do You Good!.” In Frontiers in Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery, edited by Atta-ur-Rahman and M. Iqbal Choudhary, 552-587. N.p.: Bentham Science, 2015. 

Transformative Curriculum Design and Program Development: Creating Effective Adult Learning by Leveraging Psychological Capital and Self-Directedness through the Exercise of Human AgencyHormone-dependent cancers of the breast, prostate and colon have, in the past decade, become the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Billions of dollars have been spent to study cancers like these, and tremendous advancements in the understanding and treatment of cancer have been made. Nevertheless, as effective cures for a variety of cancers continue to elude us, natural protection against cancer has been receiving a great deal of attention lately not only from cancer researchers and patients, but also from physicians. Phytoestrogens, plantderived secondary metabolites, are diphenolic substances with structural similarity to naturally-occurring human steroid hormones. Phytoestrogens are normally divided into three main classes: flavonoids, coumestans and lignans. Flavonoids are found in almost all plant families in the leaves, stems, roots, flowers and seeds of plants, and are among the most popular anti-cancer candidates. Flavonoidic derivatives have a wide variety of biological actions that includes antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiallergic activities. Some of these benefits are explained by the potent antioxidant effects of flavonoids, which include metal chelation and free-radical scavenging activities. However particular phytoestrogens show a marked ability to induce programmed cell death in specific cancer cells, and delay or prevent the onset of discrete cancers altogether. Patent applications regarding flavonoids range from protocols for extraction and purification from natural resources and the establishment of various biological activities for these extracts to novel methods for the production and isolation of flavonoids with known biological activities. This review will bring the reader up to date on the current knowledge and research available in the field of flavonoids and hormone-dependent cancers, and some of the submitted patents that exploit flavonoids.

Michael Buratovich

By on March 15, 2014 in Faculty Publications

Buratovich, Michael. “The Singing Heart of the World: Creation, Evolution, and Faith.” Christian Scholar’s Review 43, no. 2 (2014): 195-197.

Feehan uses the word “acclaim” to refer 196 t° answer for questions of ultimate meaning. Because of this acclaim that each organism gives to its Creator, all living things and their ecosystems have value, and therefore, to destroy them as wantonly as we have is to destroy worshipers of the Maker of Heaven and Earth. […]Feehan defines the goal of humanity, or in his words, “human acclaim” (157).

Michael Buratovich

By on December 1, 2013 in Faculty Publications

Auday, Bryan C., Michael A., Buratovich, Geraldine F. Marrocco, and Paul Moglia. Magill’s Medical Guide 7th edition. Ipswich, Massachusetts : Amenia, NY: Salem Press, 2013.

Magill's Medical Guide 7th editionNow in its seventh edition, Magill’s Medical Guide contains 1,200 entries in five volumes. Many essay topics are completely new to this edition, and all entries from the previous edition have been evaluated and updated by a panel of Medical Editors to ensure their currency and accuracy, as needed. All cross-references to other relevant entries in Magill’s Medical Guide have been revised. Every bibliography has been updated with the latest editions and sources, including Web sites for relevant organizations. All appendixes from the previous edition have been updated and checked for accuracy, and the “Medical Journals” list has been expanded to include standard title abbreviations, now serving as a key for users.

Michael Buratovich

By on October 9, 2013 in Faculty Publications

Buratovich, Michael A. The Stem Cell Epistles: Letters to My Students about Bioethics, Embryos, Stem Cells, and Fertility Treatments. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2013.

The Stem Cell EpistlesHuman embryos, it has been said, “have no muscles, nerves, digestive system, feet, hands, face, or brain; they have nothing to distinguish them as a human being, and if one of them died, no one would mourn as they would for one of us.” Consequently, early human embryos are being dismembered in laboratories around the world to produce embryonic stem cells, which, we are told, are the tools that will lead to the next quantum leap in medicine. Should Christians support such small sacrifices for something that might potentially relieve the suffering of millions, or should we vigorously oppose it?

Developmental biologist and professor of biochemistry Michael Buratovich was asked such a question (among others) by his students. This book contains his measured answers and provides support from the scientific literature to substantiate his claims. He shows that embryonic stem cells are unnecessary, since the renaissance in regenerative medicine is occurring largely without them. Furthermore, he sets forth the scientific and historic case that the embryo is the youngest and most vulnerable member of humanity, and that ones such as these are precisely those whom the Christian church worked to protect in the past—and should champion in the present.

Michael Buratovich

By on November 13, 2011 in Faculty Publications

Buratovich, Michael A. “Recent Advances on the Origin of Life–Making Biological Polymers.” Reports of the National Center for Science Education 31, no. 1 (2011).

Abstract: The creationism–evolution debate almost always comes around to discussions about the origin of life. The enormousness of the problem of how organic chemicals (those compounds
that contain the element carbon) reacted to synthesize biological molecules like proteins, nucleic acids, membrane lipids, and others, and how these self-replicated and assembled to form the first protocells, represents an attractive target for critics. In addition, the respectable degree of uncertainty that surrounds present answers to origin-of-life questions, and the large diversity of the proposed solutions, represent ample fodder for those who would question the validity of the entire origin-of-life research program. Consequently, creationists have said a great deal about origin-of-life research, and none of it is positive.

Michael Buratovich

By on April 16, 2011 in Faculty Publications

Buratovich, Michael. “Inside the Human Genome: A Case for Non-Intelligent Design.” Christian Scholar’s Review 40, no. 2 (2011): 239-241.

Abstract: The University of California, Irvine’s Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, John C. Avise, is a very productive and highly respected scientist. His popular book, Inside the Human Genome, examines the content and structure of the human genome, but he moves beyond the bald facts about our genomes and tries to discern what they mean. The sequence of the human genome, according to Avise, provides strong evidence for the theory of evolution and even stronger evidence against the theory of intelligent design. More tellingly, Avise thinks that it tells us something profound about the problem of evil.

Michael Buratovich

By on April 16, 2010 in Faculty Publications

Buratovich, Michael. “Why Evolution is True/Why Evolution Works (and Creationism Fails).” Christian Scholar’s Review 39, no. 3 (2010): 358-362.

Abstract: While they mention Recent Creationism and address some of its objections to Neo-Darwinism, Young and Strode note that the Supreme Court outlawed the teaching of “Creation Science” in its 1987 Edwards v. Aguillard case. […] for their purposes, Young and Strode see Recent Creationism as a toothless tiger, and tend to focus more on the new challenger to Neo-Darwinism, ID theory. […] in their chapter on the cosmologica! case for design, Young and Strode use the computer simulations of physicist Victor Stenger to cast doubt on the fine-tuning argument.