| The subject of DNA is very much in the headlines | | | | individual and from species to species. For an analogy |
| and news but very few have bothered to learn or | | | | think of a library where all the books are in one |
| understand just how this amazing molecule works | | | | language. In the library there are different books on |
| and how it makes us what we are from head to toe. | | | | different topics and subjects. All the books share the |
| Haven't you ever asked yourself how you got your | | | | letters from the same alphabet, but the sequence in |
| nose, eyes, ears, fingers, toes, and everything else? | | | | which these letters are arranged are different from |
| How did your DNA bring all this about? Before we | | | | book to book. The sequence of the letters makes |
| answer that question we need to know just a few | | | | the difference between a book on chemistry and a |
| simple things about DNA. | | | | romance novel! |
| DNA is the abbreviated name for the genetic code | | | | When scientists study genes they are studying |
| and it is exactly that - a code. It is a molecular string | | | | segments of the DNA molecule. The goal of the |
| of chemical information. | | | | human genome project was to locate where the |
| DNA is located in the nucleus of our cells and is made | | | | various genes are on the DNA. Only in this way can |
| up of smaller molecules called nucleic acids. These | | | | we begin to understand how to use genetic |
| smaller molecules in DNA are arranged in a sequence, | | | | engineering to correct various genetically caused |
| just like the letters in a sentence. The sequence of | | | | disorders and maladies. Faulty genes arise from |
| these nucleic acids tell the cells in our body how to | | | | mutations. Mutations are accidental changes in the |
| build our nose, eyes, hands, feet, and everything else. | | | | sequence of the genetic code caused by radiation |
| The material our body uses to build new cells comes | | | | and other environmental forces. Most biological |
| from the food we eat. Food is not just for energy. | | | | variations, however, are not from mutations but |
| Food is also the "lumber" and "bricks" the body uses | | | | from new combinations of already existing genes. |
| to build new cells. When a cell multiplies it makes | | | | Because they are accidents in the genetic code, |
| more cells of the same size. The only way to do this | | | | almost all mutations are harmful. Even if a good |
| is by getting new material and that new material | | | | mutation does occur for every good one there |
| comes from food. | | | | would be hundreds of harmful ones with the net |
| Think about it! When we were in our mother's womb | | | | effect over time being harmful, if not lethal, to the |
| we started off as a single cell not even weighing an | | | | species as a whole. |
| ounce at conception. Eventually we developed arms, | | | | Evolutionists hope that with enough time and with |
| hands, legs, feet and organs such as brain, heart, | | | | enough mutations new genes for entirely new traits |
| lungs, liver, stomach, until we had a complete body. | | | | will be produced leading to the evolution of new |
| It's true that the single cell we once were multiplied | | | | biological kinds. There is no evidence that this can |
| into many more cells, but where did the material | | | | happen from accidental changes in the sequence of |
| come from for that one cell to multiply into billions of | | | | the genetic code, anymore than it's possible to |
| more cells of equal size and eventually making a body | | | | change a romance novel into a book on chemistry by |
| weighing several pounds from something that didn't | | | | accidental changes in the sequence of the letters. |
| even weigh an ounce in the beginning. The material | | | | At the very best mutations can only produce new |
| came from our mother's food. | | | | varieties of already existing genes or traits, but not |
| When food is digested and broken down to its basic | | | | new genes or new traits. For example, mutations in |
| amino acids the various amino acids are then | | | | the gene for human hair may change that gene so |
| rearranged in a certain sequence to form cells that | | | | that another type of human hair develops but the |
| make up the various tissues and organs. What | | | | mutations won't change the gene so that feathers or |
| sequence these amino acids come together in is | | | | wings develop! |
| determined by the sequence of the molecules in | | | | No one has shown that DNA can come into |
| DNA. | | | | existence by chance! It takes DNA to get DNA! Yes, |
| Remember, even after all our organs are formed the | | | | the individual molecules that make up DNA have been |
| cells that make up our organs are continually dying | | | | shown to be able to come into existence by chance. |
| and need to be replaced. Again, the material to make | | | | But, it has never been shown that those individual |
| more cells to replace the ones that are dying comes | | | | molecules can come together into a sequence by |
| from food. | | | | chance to form the genetic code. |
| Thus, when you feed your dog a T-Bone steak your | | | | Science cannot prove the existence of God but the |
| dog's DNA will make sure that steak is digested and | | | | scientific evidence shows that DNA, life, and the |
| rearranged to form the various parts of your dog, | | | | universe are not here by chance. For more |
| but when you eat the same steak your DNA will | | | | information on this please read my other articles and, |
| make sure that the steak is digested and rearranged | | | | especially, my essay "The Natural Limits of Evolution" |
| to form human parts. | | | | at my website |
| The sequence in DNA differs from individual to | | | | Sincerely, Babu G. Ranganathan (B.A. |