Thus, just an article strictly on the newest thoughts regarding complex design by Zimmer would be seen as support of his beliefs. Why, then, the added zing against Intelligent Design? Is because the continued dispute between the scientists and Creationists has disturbed Zimmer so much that he had to add these comments? Or, was it a National Geographic editor who read Zimmer's piece and said, "Let's make this article juicier by setting the Intelligent Design people against the scientists."

No one will ever know for sure if either of these scenarios or another one is the truth. However, it does seem odd that the three paragraphs noted above after the introduction can easily be removed without any changes needed to the flow of the article. The first two paragraph introduction moves very smoothly into "Some have emerged..." There is nothing lost by removing these middle three paragraphs than some heat.

How much more credible the article is without these added paragraphs. Now, the article is not on who is right or wrong, but rather how much is being learned through the study of these complex marvels. The story is not whether one animal evolved into another and into another or instead that God or some other intelligent being created these creatures. The story is instead on how marvelous and wonderful such creatures are. Who would think that a fly larva could be this complex? Or a wormlike body could have such a gene structure? Just look at the complexity of a feather! However it was evolved or created, it is something to behold!

Putting aside the issue of "he said, she said," Zimmer's science feature article is very interesting and informative. Within a very few number of pages, he provides a wealth of information on what has been taking place in this area of study. He spices up the facts...

This shows how well he knows his material and his audience.
The photographs add to the article, as well. It is easier to see and understand the complexity about which Zimmer is writing. That is another plus about feature articles in comparison to the usual news article: Editors will find the space to include visuals to add interest.

All in all, this article is a good and knowledgeable read, which is recommended to both adults and schools. It is an excellent addition to the topic of biology or zoology, as well as the study of evolution.

It just would have been more effective if there were two separate articles: The overall article on the complexity and then a side bar on the evolution vs. Creationism controversy. In the latter article, additional comments could have come from scientists both pro and con Intelligent Design, for, in fact, there are a number of scientists (even biologists and zoologists) who do believe that these marvels of nature are the result of some overall plan or design.

In his book Why Darwin Matters, Author Michael Shermer, founding editor of the Skeptic and Scientific American columnist, writes why religion and science need not be in conflict. Science and religion are two different realms, he stresses: respectively the natural and supernatural. He cites Pope John Paul II in support of their possible coexistence. Zimmer and other scientists do not need to discount their opponents to demonstrate the fascination of evolution. All the examples in nature do it all by themselves.

Zimmer, Carl (2006). "A Fin, is a Limb is a Wing." National Geographic Magazine.