AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Ninety-eight percent of 450 Texas biologists and biological anthropologists reject the theories of the intelligent design movement, a survey indicates.

The scientists responded to survey conducted by the Texas Freedom Network, an advocacy organization based in Austin that describes itself as "a mainstream voice to counter the religious right," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The survey results were released this week as the Texas State Board of Education prepared to discuss public school science curriculum.


The group's survey of biologists at 49 public and private Texas universities also found that about 95 percent of the respondents want evolution to be the only theory of the origin of life taught in public schools.

"Opponents of evolution often say that we should 'teach the controversy,'" Raymond Eve, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Arlington who conducted the survey, told the Star-Telegram. "The response of scientists is: What controversy?"

Backers of intelligent design theories said the survey was flawed because less than half of the 1,019 faculty members contacted for it responded.