Genetics Questions and Answers

Can all people be genetically traced back to one woman ancestor, as the ‘mitochondrial Eve’ hypothesis claims? How about tracing all people back to one common male ancestor?

• A shrinking date for Eve (Semi-Technical)
• No bones about Eve!
• Recovery of Neandertal mtDNA: an evaluation (Semi-Technical)
• Y-Chromosome Adam? (Semi-Technical)
• Genesis correctly predicts Y-Chromosome pattern (Semi-Technical)

What about the similarities between ape and human DNA? Does this support evolution?

• Ape and Human DNA Similarity: Does it prove evolution? (available in Spanish)
• Argument: Common design points to common ancestry (from Refuting Evolution 2)
• Furry little humans?
• Reevaluation of >98% Similarity of Chimpanzee and Human DNA
• Skippy surprises scientists
• No joy for junkies

How does genetics point to design?

• DNA: marvelous messages or mostly mess?
• Bears across the world
• Dogs breeding dogs
• Genetics and biblical demographic events
• Genetics: No Friend of Evolution (available in Finnish)
• Hox (homeobox) Genes — Evolution’s Saviour?
• Hox Hype: Has Macro-evolution Been Proven?
• Astonishing DNA complexity uncovered
• Astonishing DNA complexity update
• ‘Junk’ DNA: evolutionary discards or God’s tools? (Technical)
• See also Q&A: ‘Vestigial’ Organs — What about ‘vestigial’ or ‘junk’ DNA?
• Meta-information: An impossible conundrum for evolution
• Large scale function for ‘endogenous retroviruses’

Do gene duplication and polyploidy provide a mechanism for evolution?

• Gene duplication (from refutation of Science, Evolution and Creationism by NAS)
• Argument: Some mutations are beneficial (Refuting Evolution 2, ch. 5)
• Does gene duplication provide the engine for evolution? (semi-technical)
• Copying confusion: Does duplication of existing DNA help evolution?
• Dawkins and the origin of genetic information
• Do new functions arise by gene duplication? (technical)
• Genome truncation vs mutational opportunity: can new genes arise via gene duplication? Part 1, Part 2 (Technical)

From a Biblical standpoint, how should Christians view topics such as cloning and genetic engineering?

• Hot potatoes: Is there a ‘creationist view’ on genetically modified foods?
• Of Lettuces and Cow-Humans
• Cloning: Right or Wrong?
• Hello Dolly! Cloning and Creation
• New monkey clone?
• See also Q&A: Cloning

How should Christians view the human genome project?

• The Human Genome Project: how should we view it?
• Missing links in gene knowledge
• Genome Mania—Deciphering the human genome: what does it mean?

What should Christians think about genetically modified foods?

• Frankenstein foods?

How would very long lifespans, such as those mentioned in the Genesis account of pre-flood patriarchs, have been genetically possible?

• Living for 900 years (available in Spanish)
• Decreased Lifespans: Have We Been Looking in the Right Place? (Semi-Technical)