Biology is a changed discipline since the advent of the human genome project. Now scientists have detailed molecular DNA codes for many important organisms. DNA, of course, is the genetic information which provides for inheritance, development and mature life processes of each organism.
It is reasonable to ask what impact this new information has for our understanding of origins. Does the new information have any implications concerning evolution or creation and if so, what are they?
John C. Sanford, a geneticist who spent his career in traditional plant breeding and also in biotechnology, is extremely qualified to discuss these issues. His recent book Genetic Entropy and the Mystery of the Genome answers these questions.
As with so many issues, this one involves a discussion of details. The story is indeed in the details. The author however has developed some metaphors such as user manuals for little red wagons, cars, jets and a spaceship, which make it easier to understand the concepts. Nevertheless, the main significance of this book is for the university student and the reader educated in science, who has encountered (or soon will encounter) evolutionary arguments derived from genomic studies. It is obviously very important for everyone to understand what the issues are and where the evidence points.
Dr. Sandford’s arguments are exceptionally clear. He discusses the nature of mutations, how selection works or does not work, and the future of humanity based on these processes. The picture he paints is one that is most discouraging to evolution. His discussion includes many papers from the establishment scientific literature as well as computer generated projections and graphs based on these data. He also discusses the major arguments which evolutionists use to deal with these data.
This book is a clear demonstration that the genome data fit the creation model and provide a strong argument against (some would say refutation of) the evolution model. A basic ability to handle mathematics as well as an understanding of population genetics are definitely assets when reading this book, but the message can also be understood in terms of instruction manuals for vehicles such as the spaceship ‘Phenome’. It is to be hoped that this book is but one of a long string of books yet to appear, which will deal with specific topics in science.
J. C. Sanford. 2005. Genetic Entropy & the Mystery of the Genome. Elim Publishing. New York. 208 pages.
July 2007
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