Related: Major US science group opposes "intelligent design" doctrine

Religion and science clashed in a drab Pennsylvania courtroom yesterday over a test case that could decide how evolution is taught in America's state schools.

    BEIJING, Sep. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- A court battle between "evolution" theory and "intelligent design" began on Monday in a Pennsylvania courtroom.

    "It's the first movement to try to drive a wedge between students and the scientific process," said Brown University's Kenneth Miller, the first witness called Monday by lawyers for eight families suing the Dover Area School District.

    The law suit was triggered by the decision, made by the Dover school district, Pennsylvania, to include " intelligent design" in the curriculum of ninth-grade biology classes.

    The school district required teachers to read a disclaimer prior to a unit on evolution. The disclaimer said that "intelligent design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin's view." It also notes that a reference book on intelligent design is available to students.

    Intelligent Design is a theory that life is so complex there must be some sort of designer. Supporters of the theory never say who or what that designer is, but there's little doubt there are religious overtones.

    The plaintiffs were 11 parents who claimed the statement was religious and therefore a violation of the constitutional separation between church and state.

    Their legal team launched an assault on intelligent design, describing it as a "clever, tactical repacking of creationism", which the supreme court ruled in 1987 could not be taught alongside evolution.

    "It is a wedge strategy to overturn the rules of science," argued Eric Rothschild, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs. "It's creationism with the words God and Bible left out. Intelligent design is not science in its infancy. It's not science at all."

    Pat Gillan, the lead lawyer for the defence, in his opening statement, argued the case was "about freedom in education, not about a religious agenda".

    Pointing out that the Dover statement asked school children to keep "an open mind", Mr Gillan said: "The primary effect of the policy would be to advance science education.

    "It is not religion. Intelligent design is really science in its purest form - a refusal to close avenues of exploration in favour of a dominant theory."

    Fourteen US states have introduced legislation in support of "intelligent design." Dover is believed to be the first school system in the US to require students be exposed to the "intelligent design" concept since October 2004.

    In this August, the Kansas Board of Education also gave preliminary approval to science standards that allow "intelligent design"-style alternatives to be discussed alongside evolution. Enditem

    (Agencies)