Early Manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder

The petemolino.com blog has posted a good article on the Early Manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Great information about the symptoms and signs of Autism and when they start showing up. Read the blog.

Does Science Make Belief in God Intensely Plausible?

"President Obama has nominated Francis Collins to be the next director of the National Institutes of Health. It would seem a brilliant choice. Dr. Collins’s credentials are impeccable: he is a physical chemist, a medical geneticist and the former head of the Human Genome Project. He is also, by his own account, living proof that there is no conflict between science and religion. In 2006, he published “The Language of God,” in which he claimed to demonstrate “a consistent and profoundly satisfying harmony” between 21st-century science and evangelical Christianity." Read the rest of the story ...

The head of the NIH manages a $30 billion dollar annual budget for science research in the US. With the widespread "scientific illiteracy" of the American public having a man who supports notions and beliefs outside the bounds of scientific evidence is concerning. There is a real risk to the neurosciences, cognitive sciences, and behavioral sciences who all believe that human minds are the products of brains, and brains are the products of evolution. Francis Collins sees it differently. He insists that at some moment in the development of our species God inserted crucial components — including an immortal soul, free will, the moral law, spiritual hunger, genuine altruism, etc.

There are several questions I have about his nomination: Will his belief system guide his funding of research proposals? Will continued funding of ongoing research projects that conflict with his belief system be "de-funded?" How does a man of Dr. Collin's credentials maintain beliefs that are contrary to our scientific knowledge?

Interesting Post about the Prevalence of Autism

PeteMolino.com posted an interesting article / blog regarding the existing empirical evidence about the prevalence of Autism.

Read at blog.petemolino.com

Evidenced Based Treatments for Young Children with Autism

Great article on what the scientific literature says about the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to treating children with autism. Check out http://petemolino.com

Selection in Biology and in Behavior

A brief and interesting review of Charles A. Catania's, "Selection in Biology and in Behavior" has been posted at http://petemolino.com

Well worth reading!