Exaptation:
Also unmentioned by [Professor Michael] Behe is exaptation, the co-opting of a structure, be it a molecule or anatomy, for a new function. For example, two of the three bones of the mammalian middle ear were co-opted from jaw bones in our reptilian ancestors. Wings, feathers, and swim bladders are other well-worn anatomical examples, but exaptation is even more prolific at the molecular scale. With the subtlest of tweaks, enzymes can catalyze different reactions, genes can be expressed in different tissues, and proteins can find new binding partners. Though Behe does not bother to address this, the molecular possibilities of exaptation are endless, particularly when gene duplication is involved. In the age of genomics, the evidence for molecular exaptation is abundant. [“Behe, Bias, and Bears (Oh My!),” Nathan H. Lents, Skeptical Inquirer (March / April 2021)]
