Genesis 1:26

1. Genesis 1:26 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

2. Genetics, Faith and Theory Timothy G. Standish, Ph. D.

3. What is Science? The whole of science is nothing more than the refinement of everyday thinking. Albert Einstein

4. What is Science? • “Sci” = Knowledge “ence” = The condition of • Explanation of natural phenomena through observation and experimentation • A method of gaining knowledge (the scientific method)

5. The Scientific Method • The Scientific method relies on two types of reasoning: • Inductive reasoning - Drawing generalized conclusions from data. This type of reasoning is used when coming up with a theory • Deductive reasoning - Elimination of possibilities until only one or a very few remain. Hypotheses are testable statements that must be true if a theory is true, thus if the hypothesis is not true, the theory can be deducted from the set of possible theories.

6. Theory Deduction Induction Fail Data Pass Test (Experiment) The Scientific Method Beliefs Hypothesis

7. Present Science Truth Error Data Old Theory Time The Scientific MethodDoes Not Always Provide Definitive Answers

8. Egg Acrosome Nucleus Nucleus Middle piece Mitochondria Sperm A Recent Example of Reevaluation

9. A Recent Example of Reevaluation Egg Nucleus Sperm

10. A Recent Example of Reevaluation Egg Nucleus Sperm

11. A Recent Example of Reevaluation Egg Nucleus Sperm

12. A Recent Example of Reevaluation No sperm mitochondria appear to enter the egg, thus no sperm mtDNA enters the egg, thus only the mother provides mtDNA to her offspring. Egg Nucleus

13. A Recent Example of Reevaluation • Awadalla et al. have shown evidence of genetic recombination in human and chimpanzee mitochondria • This seems to indicate that paternal (sperm) mtDNA must somehow get in and recombine with maternal (egg) mtDNA • “There is a cottage industry of making gene trees in anthropology and then interpreting them. This paper will invalidate most of that.” (H. Harpending, a U. of Utah anthropologist)

14. Understanding Science • Scientists must understand the difference between facts (data) and interpretation (theory) • Fact – 99 % of the proteins produced by humans appear to be about the same as those found in mice • Interpretation 1 - Mice and humans share a common ancestor • Interpretation 2 - Mice and humans share a common Designer • Most data are open to multiple interpretations • Theory ≠ Fact

15. Data, Then Theory “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to fit facts” Sherlock Holmes

16. Ockham’s Razor:The law of economy or parsimony • Data commonly suggests a number of different theories, some of which are more complicated than others • Scientists generally choose the most simple theory or explanation of data as the most probably true • This preference for the most simple theory is called Ockham’s Razor, the law of economy or parsimony • William of Ockham was a 14th-century monk who is supposed to have stated “non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem” (entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity) • Others, including Aristotle, invoked this principle before Ockham, but he made remarkably sharp use of the “razor”

17. Asking The Right Questions

18. Reductionism • Organisms are too complex to study as a whole, so biologists break them down to determine how their components work. Knowing each part’s workings gives insight on the whole organism. • Understanding the digestive system requires studying the digestive organs. Understanding the esophagus, stomach and intestines helps us understand the system. • Cells, the fundamental units of life, are understood in light of the biochemicals (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates etc.) from which they are made. • Biochemicals are coded for ultimately through DNA

19. Emergent Properties • Biological systems are more than the sum of their parts, the combination of parts produce “emergent” properties present only because of the combination and not intrinsic to any single part. • A wheel is not a transportation device, neither is a bicycle frame, but put together with a few other parts they become a bicycle. • If made only of contracting ventricles, the heart would not pump blood. Likewise valves alone could not move blood. The combined work of ventricles and valves moves blood through the heart and out to the body.

20. Biologist’s Dilemma • Life is too complex to study as a whole, thus reductionism is needed to simplify biological systems to the point they can be understood • The “simple” components that make up living things have emergent properties present only when they are combined together. • Thus, understanding how the components work does not necessarily tell us how the organism works.

21. Ernst Haeckel • One of Darwin’s greatest promoters • Like all who do not believe there was a creator, believed in spontaneous generation. • “The Monera (for instance, chromacea and bacteria), which consist only of this primitive protoplasm, and which arise by spontaneous generation from these inorganic nitrocarbonates, may thus have entered upon the same course of evolution on many other planets . . .” • “First simple monera are formed by spontaneous generation, and from these arise unicellular protists . . .” • Both quotes are from The Riddle of the Universe at the Close of the Nineteenth Century by Haeckel.

22. Spontaneous Generation • Two reasons Haeckel had faith in spontaneous generation: • Atheistic beliefs-Discounting the possibility of a Creator • Misunderstanding cell’s complexity-He observed emergent properties, not the complex parts that combined to produce them. • He held to these beliefs despite the work of: • Francisco Redi (mid 1600s) • Abbe Spallanzani • Theodor Schwann and Franz Schulze (1854) • Louis Pasteur (1861) • All of whom disproved spontaneous generation experimentally

23. Reductionism Again • Our understanding of cells at the molecular level reveals a world of complexity unimagined by Haeckel and others of his age. • Cells are not “primitive protoplasm,” but a myriad of complex molecular machines each of which is immensely unlikely to have come about spontaneously. • Haeckel’s naive faith in spontaneous generation now seems laughable in the light of knowledge generated by scientists practicing reductionism.

24. Board Trigger Staple Cheese Bait holder Hammer Spring Behe’s Insight • When we look at the protein machines that run cells, there is a point at which no parts can be removed while still having a functioning machine. Michael Behe called these machines “irreducibly complex.” • Natural selection does not provide a plausible mechanism to get from nothing to the collection of parts necessary to run anyone of a number of protein machines needed to have a living cell

25. Faith • Faith is not inconsistent with science if it exhibits the following characteristics: • Is not irrational • Is consistent with data, but differs from theory in that it does not rely on data • Faith in a Creator • Is defined by revelation not experimentation • Is experienced

26. Faith and Theory • Faith in a theory may be exposed as irrational belief if it is shown to be inconsistent with data. • Being inconsistent with a theory does not make faith irrational. • Faith in a flawed theory may lead to further flawed beliefs • Flawed beliefs may also result from poor interpretation of one’s faith or theory • Much of the perceived conflict between faith and science results from confusion about these four points

27. Haeckel’s Faith • Haeckel’s belief in spontaneous generation can be traced to: • Faith in a flawed theory - There is no Creator • Poor interpretation of the theory of natural selection proposed by Darwin

28. Christian Faith • The apostle Paul recommended to the Ephesian Christians: • Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16 • Faith in a Creator can serve as a powerful shield against misinterpretation of nature.

29. Science Faith and Data • Christian scientists must be aware that their faith colors how they interpret data. • They must be on constant guard against misapplication of faith in a Creator • Misinterpretation of revelation is as easy as misinterpretation of data • Faith in a Creator must be consistent with data collected when studying His creation.

30. Genetics • Genetics may be the ultimate exercise in reductionism by biologists. • Genes are life’s blueprint. All proteins are defined by genes, and all other macromolecules are made by proteins. • All emergent properties are ultimately defined by genes • Faith in the Creator of organisms must be consistent with what is known about the genes defining plants, animals and microorganisms.

31. Genetics and the Creator • Genes are at the foundation of evolutionary theory. Genes define the organism, and thus the variation on which natural selection can work. • Over the next few weeks of FB, think about the following two questions relating to genetics, faith and evolutionary theory: • Does evolutionary theory or faith in a Creator allow us to make better predictions about the genetic material? • Does the theory of natural selection or faith in a Creator better account for the nature of the genetic code?

32. The End