DNA and Evolution
January 20, 2002 | 12:00am
"...no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man..." – Genesis 2:20-22
When scientific studies seem to fly in the face of accepted evolutionary dogma, what do scientists do? Not much–to be sure. They can either ignore the data, try to explain it, or suggest that the research is inconclusive and reject it entirely.
That’s the way it was when results of a study done by evolutionary biologists was announced. The study was conducted by Robert Dorit of Yale, Hiroshi Akashi of the University of Chicago and Walter Gilbert of Harvard. In an attempt to trace the evolution of males in different parts of the world, these scientists studied the Y chromosome (which is carried only by men) to determine how it had mutated or changed. The accepted theory is that evolutionary biology should be able to document the changes, thus proving that over a period of time evolutionary changes could be observed.
38 men from different parts of the world with different ethnic backgrounds were selected for the study. And what did the study reveal? Major differences? Not even slight differences. "To their great surprise," says Dr. Hugh Ross, reporting the study, "Dorit and his associates found no nucleotide differences at all in the non-recombination part of the Y chromosomes of the 38 men. This non-variation suggests no evolution has occurred in male ancestry.
"Based on this analysis, they concluded that men’s forefather–a single individual, not a group–lived no more than 270,000 years ago."
Apart from the dates suggested for the first man and woman, scientific studies have come to the same conclusion as did Moses some 3,400 years ago. And why not? Why should it be thought strange that the findings of science should corroborate with the statements of the Bible? Here’s the problem: Evolution is a theory. Tracing chromosomes deals with facts. DNA studies have given evolutionary biologists a difficult time because the facts contradict the theory.
People often accept the statements of a PhD who teaches science in the university as the voice of an infallible twentieth century prophet. Instead of evaluating what the professor says in light of what the Bible says, people simply assume that the Bible is wrong.
I welcome genetic research. Instead of uncovering the wide spectrum of evolutionary development which was expected, genetic research strangely and consistently demonstrates that we have descended from a single pair of parents, individuals who were similar to us today.
If you have wondered whether the Bible will hold up to scientific scrutiny, begin by learning what the Word says. Dig out truth for yourself. Find out what the text says and what it doesn’t say. As Paul puts it, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). It’s the only way to go.
Resource Reading: Genesis 2:1-14
When scientific studies seem to fly in the face of accepted evolutionary dogma, what do scientists do? Not much–to be sure. They can either ignore the data, try to explain it, or suggest that the research is inconclusive and reject it entirely.
That’s the way it was when results of a study done by evolutionary biologists was announced. The study was conducted by Robert Dorit of Yale, Hiroshi Akashi of the University of Chicago and Walter Gilbert of Harvard. In an attempt to trace the evolution of males in different parts of the world, these scientists studied the Y chromosome (which is carried only by men) to determine how it had mutated or changed. The accepted theory is that evolutionary biology should be able to document the changes, thus proving that over a period of time evolutionary changes could be observed.
38 men from different parts of the world with different ethnic backgrounds were selected for the study. And what did the study reveal? Major differences? Not even slight differences. "To their great surprise," says Dr. Hugh Ross, reporting the study, "Dorit and his associates found no nucleotide differences at all in the non-recombination part of the Y chromosomes of the 38 men. This non-variation suggests no evolution has occurred in male ancestry.
"Based on this analysis, they concluded that men’s forefather–a single individual, not a group–lived no more than 270,000 years ago."
Apart from the dates suggested for the first man and woman, scientific studies have come to the same conclusion as did Moses some 3,400 years ago. And why not? Why should it be thought strange that the findings of science should corroborate with the statements of the Bible? Here’s the problem: Evolution is a theory. Tracing chromosomes deals with facts. DNA studies have given evolutionary biologists a difficult time because the facts contradict the theory.
People often accept the statements of a PhD who teaches science in the university as the voice of an infallible twentieth century prophet. Instead of evaluating what the professor says in light of what the Bible says, people simply assume that the Bible is wrong.
I welcome genetic research. Instead of uncovering the wide spectrum of evolutionary development which was expected, genetic research strangely and consistently demonstrates that we have descended from a single pair of parents, individuals who were similar to us today.
If you have wondered whether the Bible will hold up to scientific scrutiny, begin by learning what the Word says. Dig out truth for yourself. Find out what the text says and what it doesn’t say. As Paul puts it, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). It’s the only way to go.
Resource Reading: Genesis 2:1-14
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