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Examining the fundamental problems of human existence — The Origin of Life, Health, Governance — and the rational means for their solution. Without an understanding of where we came from, we cannot know where we are going. Without health, a full life is not possible. Without liberty, human potential is but a wish. |
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Dr. Wysong's Blog -
DNA DAMAGE
DNA is the information-carrying molecule in the genome that makes us (biologically) what we are, and keeps us that way. When genes are mutated, the resulting damage can cause disease and premature aging. At any given moment our DNA is being assaulted by free radicals, toxins, and various forms of ionizing radiation, such as x-rays, cosmic rays, and who knows what else. We can limit exposure to some extent, but not completely.
Fortunately, all is not lost. The body has an array of mechanisms to repair damaged DNA and other information-carrying nucleic acid molecules. These are called DNA repair mechanisms. Picture them as molecular service repair robots that are automatically called into action as soon as damage occurs. Without them we would not last long.
DNA damage is detected by certain biochemicals that set in motion a cascade of events leading to the formation of enzymes (such as helicases and ligases) that excise the damage and facilitate repair. Studies of these events in mutation-induced diseases have shown as many as 700 proteins (robots) that were activated in response to DNA damage. Researchers believe this only represents about 15% of the actual number.
These things are all very important in understanding disease and the potential for enhancing DNA repair so health is restored. But think about what this says about where we all come from.
Evolution demands mutation in order to drive the upward ascent in complexity. But mutations, in practice, are virtually all damaging and threaten survival. The body goes to extraordinary lengths to prevent and repair DNA damage, not encourage it. Health and life depend upon protecting the complex genetic information that keeps us as we are. In other words, biology is anti-evolution, not pro.
Additionally the staggering complexity of these repair mechanisms is now only beginning to be understood. We are mere students of this phantasmagoric phenomenon called life, yet evolutionists would have us believe it all comes about on its own. There are over 6000 enzymes known; scientists have yet to synthesize even one! Yet evolutionists are convinced these chemicals and the millions of others necessary for life just all came to be through the magic of time—which actually destroys, not invents, complexity.
Two other new findings in genetics have upended conventional thought and put a further nix on evolution. One is in the field of epigenetics. It has been discovered that environmental factors, not just mutations and genes, can affect inheritance. For example, the nutrition of a parent can affect offspring. But only to a degree. Creatures do not become something they are not. In fact, another recent finding is the ability of mutant parents to produce the unexpected. Instead of throwing mutant offspring, a large percentage of the offspring revert to the wild type. Massive programmed genetic rearrangements occur to bring the novel, the weird—the fodder needed for evolution—back in line. Clearly, organisms do not want to evolve into something other than what they already are.
Incidentally, there are hundreds of thousands of scientific papers describing WHAT biochemically occurs in living tissue, and at least that many expressing the BELIEF that it all came about by evolution. But there is not ONE paper that lays out a detailed and cogent step by step biochemical pathway explaining how any of it, not even a single part, could come about spontaneously.
I’m not sure what is more mind boggling, the staggering complexity of life, or the outrageous blindness and hubris of those who think it all happens because of time and chance.
Our existence is not an accident. Once that is understood, the path is cleared to discover the meaning of our existence and its purpose. (See Solving The Big Questions As If Thinking Matters to learn more.)
References—Scientist 3-09: 36, 58
Thinking Thought — "I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of." — Clarence Darrow
Thinking Word — hubris - \hy·bris\ Click for pronunciation -noun: Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance: "There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris"
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