The Epigenetics Switch?

Proponents of microbes-to-maids evolution are still gnawing on that bone of their hypothesis despite increasing advances in science — especially genetics. So called "junk" DNA turned out to be an embarrassment, since it's not junk at all. Non-functional "pseudogenes" are functional after all. What more can go wrong?

morgueFile / buttons_on-off_001 / click

Things are starting to get unpleasant hereabouts, especially since the study of epigenetics is causing a some consternation. Changes can appear in organisms as if environmental factors switched them on and off. Neo-Darwinism requires long amounts of time, and some living things can modify too fast to suit evolutionists. This all fits in right nicely with the expectation of biblical creationist biologists, however.

During the European winter of 1944, Allied troops were pushing toward Germany. In Nazi-occupied Holland, Dutch drivers went on strike to further hinder the German war effort. In retaliation, the Germans began a blockade of the Western Netherlands which, together with a severe winter, resulted in a period of catastrophic deprivation and starvation. The population was reduced to a diet of about a third of their needed daily calorie intake, resulting in approximately 20,000 deaths between November 1944 and May 1945 when the blockade was lifted. People were forced to eat grass and tulip bulbs, and were burning furniture for heat in order to stay alive. This period is known as the Dutch Hunger Winter. . .

One can easily imagine how a severe lack of nutrition could affect the health of the victims. But what about the lives of babies who were still in the womb during that terrible period, and even generations beyond them? Due to excellent registry and health records in the Netherlands, scientists have been able to use this episode as a ‘living laboratory’, following birth weights and health issues for decades after the end of World War II. This has yielded some startling results.

To learn more about the starting results and epigenetics, click on "Epigenetics—an epic challenge to evolution".