The Arsenal Files 4/The Arsenal Files 4 (Arsenal Computer).ISO/spirit/met9403a.txt

Text File | 1995-01-27 | 9KB | 163 lines

                           ESSAYS ON ORIGINS:

       Sickle Cell Anemia and Other "Good" Mutations of Evolution
                     by Dr. David N. Menton, Ph.D.

                  This version copyright (c) 1994 by:
                   Missouri Association for Creation
 _____________________________________________________________________

  [No. 9 in a series]                       March 1994, Vol. 4, No. 3
 _____________________________________________________________________

   The marvelous ability of all living things to reproduce themselves
after their kind is one of the most distinctive properties of life.
This reproductive ability depends in part on a vast collection of
precise genetic instructions, called genes (about 100,000 in humans),
that reside in every cell of each living organism.  It is believed that
these genes provide the instructions necessary for not only the assembly
and function of each cell, but also for all the organs and even the
entire body!  A complete set of these instructions is stored in the
chromosomes, inside the nucleus of the cell.

   The survival of every living species depends on its ability to pass
on its precious genetic instructions, from generation to generation,
without significant alteration.  First, all of the genetic instructions
must be precisely duplicated and passed on by the germ cells to enable
the birth of each new individual.  Then, from the very first cell of a
new individual (a fertilized egg), the genetic instructions must be
accurately duplicated for the subsequent production of every cell that
makes up the whole organism -- about 30 trillion cells (of several hundred
different kinds) in the case of our own body!  This process must
continue throughout life in order to support growth and repair, as well
as to replace cells that are continually dying.  The red blood cells of
our body, for example, are being produced at the rate of about two
million per second, to replace older cells which are dying at the same
rate!

   If a species is to survive, the frequent duplication of its genetic
instructions must occur with great precision.  There are, in fact,
several error-checking mechanisms in living cells that help to ensure
the accuracy of their gene duplication.  But even if copy errors are
avoided, errors can still occur when the cell is not dividing or
reproducing.  We call such errors that creep into the genetic
instructions of a cell _mutations_.  There are several kinds of
chemicals, viruses, and radiations that are known to cause mutations.
Ultraviolet light from the sun, for example, can cause mutations in our
skin, resulting in a benign form of skin cancer called basal cell
carcinoma.  Cancer is so closely associated with mutations that the
terms _carcinogenic_ (cancer-causing) and _mutagenic_ (mutation-causing)
are essentially synonymous.  None the less, evolutionists insist that
some mutations are beneficial and lead to the gradual improvement of a
species!

   Chance mutations amount to random changes in the highly complex and
integrated genetic instructions of the cell.  Such changes would be no
more likely to improve a living cell (or organism) than would a random
interchange of connections in a television set be likely to improve the
picture.  Although some mutations have no noticeable effect, many are
harmful and even fatal.  Mutations are so harmful, in fact, that the
very survival of all living organisms (from bacteria to man) depends on
a complex biochemical mechanism in each cell that identifies mutations
as they occur -- and repairs them!  This marvelous mutation repair
mechanism involves an integrated sequence of special enzymes that
actually cut out the erroneous (mutant) parts of each gene, and then
splice in correct patches.  The whole field of "genetic engineering" is
based on the discovery, and use, of these naturally occurring "cutting"
and "splicing" enzymes.

   The importance of mutation repair to human life can be appreciated by
examining what happens when it doesn't work properly.  There is a human
disease called xeroderma pigmentosum, which results from a single defect
(itself a mutation) in the complex mutation repair process.  This is a
hereditary disease, in which the skin and other tissues react in a
hypersensitive way to any form of radiant energy.  When people suffering
from this disorder are exposed to sun light or x-rays, for example, they
develop progressive degenerative changes (more mutations) which lead to
cancer, including the often fatal malignant melanoma.

   Regrettably, some mutations manage to escape even the normally
functioning repair process, and these accumulate throughout life.  Some
scientists have proposed that aging and death are the result of such
unrepaired mutations.  It is hard to imagine that anyone could find
something good to say about unrepaired mutations -- except
evolutionists.  Evolutionists, you see, believe that mutations (and
indeed death itself) are absolutely essential for the chance evolution
of all living organisms, including man!  The reason for this, as
evolutionist Theodosius Dobzhansky points out, is that "the process of
mutation is the only known source of the new materials of genetic
variability, and hence evolution." (_American Scientist_ 45:385)  Thus
evolutionist Carl Sagan could say in his book, _The Cosmic Connection_,
"we (humans) are the products of a long series of biological accidents."

   Are biological accidents (mutations) up to the task that
evolutionists claim for them?  Are there any known examples of
unquestionably "beneficial" mutations?  Ironically, the primary textbook
example of a "good" mutation is one that causes the disease sickle cell
anemia!  This mutation of blood hemoglobin is considered "good" because
people who have it (and survive it!) are more resistant to the disease
malaria.  The symptoms of this "good" mutation include: acute attacks of
abdominal and joint pain, ulcers on the legs, defective red blood cells,
and severe anemia -- often leading to death.  One can only imagine what
the "bad" mutations are like!  No wonder that H. J. Mueller, who won the
Nobel prize for his work on mutations, said:

   "It is entirely in line with the accidental nature of mutations
   that extensive tests have agreed in showing the vast majority of
   them detrimental to the organism in its job of surviving and
   reproducing -- good ones are so rare we can consider them all
   bad." (_Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists_ 11:331)

   The unquestioning faith of evolutionists in the occurrence and
beneficial effects of "good" mutations is sustained despite overwhelming
evidence against it.  In his book _Genetics and the Origin of Species_,
Dobzhansky admits that mutations arising both in the laboratory and in
natural populations typically produce deterioration, disease, and
monstrosities. He even concedes that "such changes it would seem, can
hardly serve as evolutionary building blocks." Yet in his book _Mankind
Evolving_, Dobzhansky insists that, "This is not inconsistent with the
recognition that useful mutations did occur in the evolutionary line
which produced man, for otherwise obviously, mankind would not be here."
Such child-like and unquestioning faith is not found in all of
Christendom.  Think about it, chance mutations or intelligent design, --
which explanation of the origin of the incredible complexity of life
requires the greater faith?
_______________________________________________________________________

Dr. Menton received his Ph.D. in Biology from Brown University.  He has
been involved in biomedical research and education for over 30 years.

Dr. Menton is President of the Missouri Association for Creation, Inc.

                        Originally published in:
                          St. Louis MetroVoice
                             PO Box 220010
                          St. Louis, MO  63122
_______________________________________________________________________

            Corrections and revisions have been made by the
              author from the original published essay.

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