So I’ve recently come across another gem of pseudo-scientific efficacy, propounded by apologists who have an impressively shallow understanding of human genetics. This “idea”, evidently spawned by theologians with an elementary grasp of molecular protein and genetic coding, states that DNA is devised by an intelligent designer, basing the “logical” foundation of this breakthrough on the “Argument from Complexity”, and likening DNA, a 4 letter, 20 amino acid, 64 codon protein synthesis, to binary, a two code system, simply because binary was designed, meaning, somehow, that DNA was also “created”. Let us not forget that binary was a coding system devised for programs that are not carbon based life forms, because they lack the necessary constituent for their own coding.
My question is this: Regardless of the unscientific foundation and supremely improbable basis, why, if god were the scientist behind the curtain, manufacturing every 3 billion letter protein sequence to be as unique and individualistic as the organisms in which they reside, why does he allow, or create, a human or animal with defects in their genetic coding? Why are their chromosomal defects? Why are there defective codes in DNA, in cellular mytosis, and the other engines of sexual selection that prevent us ALL from being equally fit, intelligent, and healthy?
AND DON’T TELL ME FREE WILL, or any other apologistic nonsense. The founders of this theory very explicitly stated that “God” makes each and every DNA sequence for every single organism on the planet.
According to this theory, there can only be two accounts for the errors in our DNA that lead to debilitating, insufferable diseases and handicaps:
God makes mistakes in coding, disproving an infallible and omnipotent god.
Or, God intentionally makes these minute errors in the order of genetic coding, disproving an omni-benevolent god.
There are NO other alternative explanations to this idea, for diseases and disorders DO exist, and in accordance with this theory, God is the "designer" of all DNA on the planet.
If you think there are any others, you misunderstood the theological postulate and my question.
It has also been theorized that when "sin" was introduced, our molecular structure changed, preventing us from living for centuries, and lowering our life expectancy to mere decades.
If this is true, what was the process by which "sin" modified our genetic structure, making us succeptible to coding defects? Did "sin", the intangeable, ephemeral CONCEPT that it is, actually infiltrate the human genome and mutate our protein structure? And if it did, would you not think that evidence of such mutation would be reflected in the sequencing? I often see apologists criticizing the so called "short-comings" of scientific knowledge, but genetics is one of our most advance sciences, and we now have the ability to sequence genomes within human DNA so that they will actually S-P-E-L-L out the ancestral lineage for millions of years, hence how we can factually verify our million year old ancestors, such as Homo Habilis and Ergaster.
So again, wouldn’t we know, with the species Homo Sapien Sapien being so young, if there was a large immediate (or even a gradual) shift in genetic information?
Denarium: I appreciate that you have taken the time to answer my question. Now, if I may be a little critical, I would like to address some of the more problematic distinctions of your response.
First and foremost, I find it terribly appalling that you would say something such as "God… ‘Gives’ genetic flaws for variety…" as if he were bestowing the honor upon the handicap that they may be here to make us feel better about ourselves. Do handicap people give you a reason to wake up in the morning? Do you honestly believe that people with Parkinson’s, Sickle Cell, and Down Syndrome are the only reason that you "Work towards something in life"? People suffer, in amounts of pain that are orders of magnitude more than anything you or I have ever known, so people like you will have a "reason" to want something?
Douglas Adam’s said that, "Life is often wasted on the living." I see now that it is people like you for which his statement was devised.
Mr. John: First, let me commend you for spending the undoubted hours it took you to structure a response to my query. I know that, with an intelligence level as dimunitive as your own, it must be difficult, even physically painful at times, to form proper sentences, so again, thank you for enduring this indisputably excrutiating attempt at debate.
Secondly, in the science of molecular phylogenetics, there is no such thing as a "perfect" or "imperfect" gene. In order to fully understand genetics, and science as a whole, you have to leave your theistic presuppositions out of the lexicon.
There is also another, rather unpopular, misconception that I would like to address. There is no such thing as a "missing link" and to believe there is such reveals a grave misapprehension. Evolution does not operate in leaps and bounds. Jelly fish don’t evolve into humans, nor do apes transmutate into homo sapiens. Evolution is a dynamic, gradual process that occurs over millions of years.
And, Mr. John, I see that you are attempting to be "ironic" by adopting the word "Indoctrinate" into your vocabulary. I also understand that, in the true characteristic fashion of your theocratic associations, you only know the meaning of this word by being criticized for it. You, and those that follow your fragmented and pathetic ideology, make the rest of this planet miserable for people who wish to be free from ignorace, prejudice, and slavery.
I can only hope that some day you can remove yourself from your fear-driven dogma and become aware of the ignorance and misery religion has forced upon our species for thousands of years.
Education is the cornerstone of our civilization, and without it, we will catapult head first towards our archaic addictions to superstion, xenophobia, and genocide.
Which leads to me probe: What was YOUR highest leel of education?
