Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Design Consideration

Design Consideration

Designing a structure involves a series of considerations, primarily the material's ultimate strength, calculated through tests that measure changes under increased force until the material reaches its breaking point or limit. The ultimate load, where the material breaks, is divided by its original cross-sectional area, resulting in the ultimate normal stress or strength. The ultimate shearing stress is another significant factor taken into account.
The factor of safety is another key aspect...

Design Example: Vintage Mixing Console

Design Example: Vintage Mixing Console

A sound engineer at a music company recently encountered a problem. The output from their newly acquired studio's vintage mixing console was too low for the requirements of modern recording equipment. To rectify this situation, the engineer decided to design an audio pre-amplifier using an operational amplifier (op-amp) to boost the signal level.
The specifications for the pre-amplifier were clear. It needed to amplify the audio signal by a factor of 10, have an input impedance above 10...

Design Example

Design Example

The innovation of touch-tone telephony revolutionized the telecommunications industry by replacing the traditional rotary dial with a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signaling system. This system uses a matrix-style keypad with buttons arranged in four rows and three columns, creating 12 distinct signals each assigned to a pair of frequencies. Each button press results in a simultaneous generation of two sinusoidal tones – one from a low-frequency group (697 to 941 Hz) and one from a...

Group Design

Group Design

The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between the two are due to...

Design Example: Automobile Ignition System

Design Example: Automobile Ignition System

The automobile's ignition system plays a vital role by ensuring the timely ignition of the fuel-air mixture in each cylinder. This ignition is facilitated by a spark plug, which is composed of two electrodes separated by an air gap. A spark forms across this air gap when a substantial voltage is generated between the electrodes, leading to the ignition of the fuel.
One can generate a large voltage using a car battery of 12 volts with the help of inductors. Inductors are known for opposing rapid...

Thomson's e/m Experiment

Thomson's e/m Experiment

In a beam of charged particles created by a heated cathode, the particles move at different speeds. However, many applications need a beam with uniform particle speeds. An arrangement known as a velocity selector uses electric and magnetic fields to pick particles with a particular speed from the beam.
A particle with charge q, speed v, and mass m enters an area from the top, where the magnetic and electric fields are perpendicular both to the particle's motion and to one another. The magnetic...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Facilitation of Evolution by Plasticity Scales with Phenotypic Complexity.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2024

Same author

The cleverest man I never met.

Journal of genetics·2017

Same author

Adaptability and evolution.

Interface focus·2017

Same author

SEXUAL SELECTION: THE EVOLUTION OF CONSPICUOUS CHARACTERISTICS IN BIRDS BY MEANS OF IMPRINTING.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2017

Same author

Robustness and plasticity in development.

Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Cognitive science·2016

Same author

Patrick Bateson.

Current biology : CB·2015

Same journal

Empathy as a Risk Factor: A Theoretical Review on Depression-Induced Decline in Reading Performance Through the Mediation of Personality Dimensions.

Integrative psychological & behavioral science·2026

Same journal

The Dynamics of Emotional Regulation in Aversive Social Interactions: A Review of the Rationalization Trap and the Impact of Affect Labeling.

Integrative psychological & behavioral science·2026

Same journal

X implies Y - Testing Hypotheses of Direction of Effect Using Configural Frequency Analysis.

Integrative psychological & behavioral science·2026

Same journal

From Static Ontology to Dynamic Generativity: A Relational-Dynamic Model of "Dao" and DRQ in Moral Education.

Integrative psychological & behavioral science·2026

Same journal

Temporal Experience and Human State Field: Toward a New Framework Bridging Physics and Perception Part I-Basic Arguments, Concepts, and Definitions.

Integrative psychological & behavioral science·2026

Same journal

Beyond Fear: Disgust, Anger, and the Affective Core of Interpersonal Phobias.

Integrative psychological & behavioral science·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Rapid Formation and Testing of Self-expanding NiTi Frames with a Small Form Factor Suitable for Minimally Invasive Implants

Rapid Formation and Testing of Self-expanding NiTi Frames with a Small Form Factor Suitable for Minimally Invasive Implants

Published on: March 7, 2025

Nick Thompson on design.

Patrick Bateson¹

¹Sub-Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, UK. ppgb@cam.ac.uk

Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science

|April 30, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Biological adaptations appear designed but arise from natural selection, not creationism. Biologists should reclaim the term "design" from creationists and use it accurately in evolutionary contexts.

More Related Videos

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

Published on: September 19, 2018

Aqueous Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold-Tin Alloy Nanoparticles

Aqueous Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold-Tin Alloy Nanoparticles

Published on: March 15, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Rapid Formation and Testing of Self-expanding NiTi Frames with a Small Form Factor Suitable for Minimally Invasive Implants

Rapid Formation and Testing of Self-expanding NiTi Frames with a Small Form Factor Suitable for Minimally Invasive Implants

Published on: March 7, 2025

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

Published on: September 19, 2018

Aqueous Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold-Tin Alloy Nanoparticles

Aqueous Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold-Tin Alloy Nanoparticles

Published on: March 15, 2024

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Philosophy of Science

Background:

Organisms exhibit remarkable adaptations that closely match their environments.
Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection explains these adaptations.
Nick Thompson distinguished "design" from "current utility" in evolutionary traits.

Discussion:

The concept of biological "design" has been co-opted by creationists.
This appropriation has made biologists hesitant to use the term "design".
The essay argues for a nuanced understanding of "design" in evolutionary biology.

Key Insights:

Adaptations are products of natural selection, not intelligent design.
Distinguishing evolutionary "design" from teleological design is crucial.
Re-evaluating the use of "design" can enrich evolutionary discourse.

Outlook:

Encouraging biologists to use "design" cautiously and precisely.
Promoting clearer communication about evolutionary processes.
Countering the misuse of scientific terms by non-scientific groups.