Randomness and Life
Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself after his kind.
Charles Darwin knew nothing about genetics. In his day the cell was thought to be filled with nothing more than a watery jell. Darwin also thought that characteristics picked up during life could be passed on to the next generation.
After over a century of genetic studies, including the discovery and growing understanding of DNA, evolution looks more impossible than ever. For example, cystic fibrosis is caused by a random mutation at three small points in one protein. This means that one random change in one ten-millionth of the entire human genome is fatal. There are 4,000 known mutations in the human genome, and none of them are beneficial. One so-called good mutation that has been cited is sickle cell anemia since it gives some protection against malaria. However, without medical intervention, even this mutation is fatal.
After studying mutation rates among humans, scientists have concluded that if an unlikely good mutation were to happen, there would be 10,000 fatal mutations before another good mutation would happen. By this math, if life began over 3 billion evolutionary years ago, it would have all died off by now from bad mutations. Random mutations are not the way to turn paramecia into people!
That there is nothing about life or its preservation that is random shows God's love in preserving life.
Prayer:
I thank You, Father, for creating life with order so that it is protected and provided for. Amen.
Notes:
Acts and Facts, 9/07, pp. 10-13, Barney Maddox, “Mutations: The Raw Material for Evolution?”
