What causes cancer? This is an important question that needs to be answered if a successful treatment of cancer is to be found. The gene-centric view was, and still is suggested as the mechanism for the emergence different cancer phenotypes. The evolutionary model of the gene-centric view focusses on the alteration of genes (mutation or epigenetic changes) that in turn affect specific pathways associated with cell growth, cell death, angiogenesis etc. Genetic and epigenetic changes that cause alterations in these pathways are seen as the mechanisms and causes for the emergence of a cancer phenotype and natural selection is invoked to explain the persistence of these traits as natural selection somehow "mediates" or "acts upon" these changes. As if it is some sort of cause again.

Figure 1: Fearon and Vogelstein's model for the development of colorectal cancers. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7570/)

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Just tell Harry Lonsdale how you think dirt turned into Mozart and you can win big bucks! There's millions more if he really likes your idea!

Why is a failed lefty politician / atheist activist doing this in the sunset of his life?

"My goal in supporting Origin of Life research is to help scientists solve one of the great remaining problems in biology. A solution will give every science teacher in the world, from high school to college, a fundamental understanding of how life probably began on the Earth."

Well, in truth, proof of concept does not provide "fundamental understanding of how life probably began" any more than 'Milton Bradley's Mousetrap' game provides a fundamental understanding of how mice are caught. But I guess it's the best we can hope for at this time.

But this part's great:

"In time, the world will learn that the laws of chemistry and physics, and the principle of evolution by natural selection, are sufficient to explain life's origin."

Awesome! It's a research award for whoever justifies Harry's stated article of faith! Apparently he already knows the answer. He just needs you guys to flesh out the details. To use the 'Mousetrap' metaphor yet again, it's as if Harry is saying "Soon the world will know that I can catch mice using this crank, bucket, bathtub, old boot, metal ball, big plastic basket and whatever other implements happen to be in this box. I just need you guys to put it together for me."

My advice to potential applicants? The more complicated the better. Make the most absurd, elaborate, implausibly stupidly complex Rube-Goldberg-Machine you can possibly imagine and submit it in your proposal. Remember, you are not trying to find the truth of life's origins. Your goal is simply to write the most comforting apologia for Harry Lonsdale's childlike faith. After all, 'Milton Bradley's Mousetrap' would never have been a success if it were simple and plausible. The whole reason for it's appeal to childlike minds is it's sheer complexity and utter absurdity.

Best of luck, everyone.

At first thought this seems ridiculous given the fact that he is an active voice against Intelligent Design and a proponent of the "blind, and materialistic process of natural selection".

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SCIENCE SEZ SO.

HT: Vox Day