Students Get Lessons in Government, Science During Trial on 'Intelligent Design'

Harrisburg, Pa.

Much of the testimony offered in court during the first few weeks of the potentially historic trial over "intelligent design" has borne the characteristics of a classroom lecture. Make that a very difficult classroom lecture.

From gene duplication and protein sequences to lactose systems and vertebrate embryos, lawyers and witnesses on both sides of this legal battle over the Dover school district's policy requiring students to be exposed to the controversial concept have ventured deep into the realm of biology and chemistry in their arguments over its definition.

"It's Tuesday," quipped U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones III before testimony began Oct. 18—and so the topic must be blood clotting, he said, to...