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Showing posts with the label DNA

Sunflower Motion — More Complex than Thought

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Sunflowers are one of the easiest flowers to identify, what with those big yellow heads loaded with sometimes 2,000 seeds and such. They are also a provision of the Creator for our benefit, grown and harvested for oil and the seeds, which are healthy — and may be a substitute for people with nut allergies . Of course, a famous characteristic is how young sunflowers track the sun from east to west. It was thought that this was a kind of phototropism, which is when plants and fungi grow toward (or away from) a light source. Sunflowers, Pixnio / Bruce Fritz It has been learned that this ability of young sunflowers to follow the sun across the sky (even on cloudy days) is heliotropism . It is not fully understood and is very complex. Plants adapt to changes in conditions, and different genes are expressed in response to certain conditions. This is yet another example of the Master Engineer at work. Botanists have long wondered how heliotropism works to allow this amazing plant to track th...

Variations in Traits are Designed, not Random

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A word that is commonly used in discussions of genetics is alleles . Simply put , they are pairs of genes, one from each parent, that match. Alleles are on the chromosomes. They often have slight differences, and those as well as similarities affect organisms. People have tried to figure out where new traits that were not in a lineage came from. The Bearded Buddha had some ideas that he put into his version of natural selection. Gregor Mendel pioneered genetics (peas be upon him), and his research showed that Darwin was on the wrong trail. Wallkill Rail Trail at Kingston, NY, Unsplash / Cowboy Bob Sorensen (modified at PhotoFunia ) For a long time, it was believed that random mutations married up with natural selection to drive evolution. It was learned that DNA is heavily influenced by epigenetics . Evidence also shows that the Master Engineer designed living things to adapt, change how genes are expressed, and environment does not cause the changes. Sorry, Charlie. No, not really so...

Epigenetics is the Performer of the Genome?

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Stormie Waters and her fiancé Roland Meadows stopped by my place and invited me to a piano performance in town. I agreed and we rode into town in their wagon. Lisa Myworries was outside the theater, having been stood up by her date, so she joined us. A lackluster performer started out and we could tell that the piano was just adequate. The main performer, however, managed to make the piano sound like a high-quality instrument. (It reminded me of " The Touch of the Master's Hand .") We had an interesting discussion while dining afterward. Playing the piano, Pixabay / Holger Schué (music4life) Stormie had been reading an article about how the epigenome can be likened to playing a piano. Lisa spoke up, "The epigenome is above the genome, that's where the name came from." While the genome is vitally important, it is like a musical instrument. Genomes have faults, so they may not "play" as well as others. Scientists have learned about DNA and the genom...

Evosplaining Ancient DNA

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When Darwin's acolytes evosplain, anything goes. The complex scientific principle of Making Things Up™ is frequently invoked, bringing along compatible principles such as bad logic, ignoring inconvenient facts, and all that good stuff. When dinosaur soft tissues were found, it was, "Katie, bar the door!" Evolutionists assume deep time (it is imperative for their storytelling), so they tried all sorts of rescuing devices to get away from the implications. Similar things happen with ancient DNA. Derived from DNA and clock images at Clker clipart DNA is fragile, so it should not last very long. Ideal conditions can extend its shelf life on occasion. The narrative demands deep time, so it is presumed that Neanderthal DNA is 50,000 years old. Because evolution. Darwinists put on top hats and tap dance around the age limits of DNA. They simply cannot allow themselves to face the fact that evidence consistently shows that the earth is far younger than they want to believe. Ther...

Human Gene Editing Needs Biblical Standards

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People have been modifying parts of their world for millennia, and that includes livestock as well as plants. Since selective breeding is slow, scientists started working on  genetically modified organisms  (GMOs). Those are safe , but people are afraid of them anyway. Move forward to people wanting to improve themselves. One way is to have an implant, prosthesis, or some other benefit from science and technology. This can be taken to extremes in transhumanism . Human gene editing (HGE) has similar ethical problems as forming improvements through technology. CRISPR genome editing, National Institutes of Health (Usage does not imply endorsement of site contents) Secular scientists are prone to ignoring ethics, and they have demonstrated that in HGE. They have a fundamentally-flawed worldview based on materialism (no God, therefore no ultimate moral standard, belief in evolution just material exists). Sure, some can be good, moral people — relatively speaking. But only biblical...

Cheetahs and the Created Cat Kind

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Believers in descent with modifications evolution are fond of the taxonomy system that they hijacked from  Carl Linnaeus (a creationist .) Talking about the biblical created kinds  gets evolutionists on the prod. While the study of kinds is a work in progress among creationists, creationists are making progress. As a point of reference, a kind is close to the family level in conventional taxonomy. Some of the criteria for including something in a kind often apply to species, such as whether or not different critters can interbreed and hybridize: lions and tigers, dobermans and coyotes, and many others. Cheetah, Flickr / Tambako The Jaguar ( CC BY-ND 2.0 ) Most of the big cats can hybridize, but there are a few exceptions. Some folks think that cheetahs may not even be felines! Okay, they don't hybridize. That's not the only criterion. There are also a couple of common myths about cheetahs (never mind that cheetahs never prosper) that people believe and think they are not...

Mutations not as Random as Thought

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It is a core tenet of fundamentalist evolutionism that mutations are entirely random, and those who doubt the concept risk losing their jobs in the secular science industry. This and other key beliefs are strictly enforced. Except there have been a few secular renegades who dared to say that mutations are not  so random after all. It reached a point that scientists even had a conference discussing the fundamentally-flawed assumption of pure randomness in mutations. Now Darwinists are having to deal with the evidence in preference to the narrative. DNA mutation, Pixabay / swiftsciencewriting Unfortunately, evolutionists take a materialistic (atheism) viewpoint, so they reject the fact that the Master Engineer has programmed mutations into living things! He didn't just leave creatures on their own to take their chances. Epigenetics, programmed mutations, and more make it possible for organisms to survive and thrive. Honesty is good for the soul…especially when the evidence against yo...

Genome Maintenance Designed, Mocks Evolution

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Believers in descent with modifications evolution often claim that genetics (pioneered by Gregor Mendel, peas be upon him) supports evolution, which is false. Sure, with good spin doctoring, genetics can appear  to support it, but not really. Then we have genome maintenance. Imagine if you will that you have been given a maintenance job. You are given your uniform and shown to your special area with the supplies you need. This indicates that the supervisor anticipates what will be needed to effect repairs. This faulty analogy also applies to genetics. DNA and mechanic* Everything was fine at the beginning of Creation, but the Master Designer knew it would become corrupted and systems would break down. The blind, mad, gibbering fake god Evolution has no coherence or foresight, but God does and he put systems into place to offset the damage. Without them, humanity would already have become extinct. Our entire intellectual culture rests on the unscientific foundation of evolutionism. ...

Tails of Mice and Men

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There are a few things that I keep repeating because they are so important, the primary of which is that scientists (and everyone else) operate from their worldviews. These are comprised of presuppositions (things believed without experimental support). Most evolutionists presuppose materialism, creationists presuppose the truth of the Bible. Believers in descent with modifications look at information through their Darwin spectacles, usually rejecting contrary evidence and predictions. Some researchers had numerous assumptions about humans having lost tails through evolution, so they studied the tails of mice. Darwin Spectacles and mouse tail, spectacles image by kkiser at Freeimages A prairie schooner-load of assumptions is involved in the study. First, evolution is not questioned, so that is assumed. Add to that the dogma of humans and apes diverged from a common ancestor millions of years ago. Somewhere in the mix, apes lost their tails. That is historical science — or would be if...

Inner Repair Systems Show Design

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In some ways, auto mechanics are like physicians. They both need to diagnose problems and find ways of repairing them. Sometimes they have to make less-than-perfect repairs and people have to live with them. A few days ago, we lost our connection to the internet and I talked to the technician as he made repairs. I realized that cable technicians also have similarities to mechanics. To be able to make repairs, a great deal of experience, intelligence, and planning are required. Adjustments must be made and anticipating other potential problems. Getting trees off the power lines, picture by Cowboy Bob Sorensen Misotheists claim that they do not see evidence for God, but they are willingly ignorant (Rom. 1:18-23). Not only is he clearly seen in nature, but his engineering work is happening inside all of us. Systems were put in place to deal with repair situations that would arise. Unfortunately, evolutionists refuse to take the more sensible engineering approach to life. DNA repair change...

The Questions of Aging

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It is a fact of life that, barring medical conditions or accidents, people grow old and eventually take a dirt nap. There have been many efforts to try and find ways to stave off aging, and to find out what causes it in the first place. There is a movement to upgrade ourselves with transhumanism , even to the point of living forever. (There are cautionary tales about regretful immortals who long for death.) It is a good thing to cure illnesses and counteract aging, no need for transhumanism. Old Couple , Vladimir Makovsky, 1889 Those of us who believe the Bible know that aging and death entered into the world when Adam sinned. In Genesis 2:17, God told Adam that the day he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would surely die. People have said the Bible is wrong because Adam and Eve didn't die. However, the more literal translation is dying you shall die . The deterioration began and was passed down to everyone, physically and spiritually. Negative effects of all t...

The Falkland Islands Wolf and Reduced Date Range

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There was a critter on the Falkland Islands that puzzled Charles Darwin and others, since it seemingly should not be there. It had several names such as the warrah, Falkland Islands wolf/fox. It became extinct partly because people wanted to kill it to own its fur. Some pinheads thought it was a threat to sheep. Stuffed specimens exist in museums, and some interesting research involved taking samples of their mitochondrial DNA and comparing it (and mutations) with South American canids. The Warrah may have been a descendant of the maned wolf. Falkland Islands warrah/fox/wolf, WikiComm / John Gerrard Keulemans (public domain), modified at Pixlr So how and when did it get to the Falklands? The DNA testing is problematic for adherents of deep time because it conflicts with when secularists say canids entered South America. There is speculation that the warrah crossed land bridges, or possibly rafted on floating vegetation. New evidence suggests that Fuegian Indians were in the F...

Genetics and the Old Recipe Box

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Nonfiction books in libraries are usually filed according to the Dewey Decimal System, grouping subjects in an order that many people prefer (unlike the Library of Congress system). This child was reasonably skilled at using the library card catalog . It was a pointer of sorts, indicating the probable place on the shelf where a book was located. More involved was another system, unique to each designer, of recipe cards. Standard index cards were stored in metal or wooden boxes, having details of recipe ingredients and instructions. They were often grouped by subjects. Recipe Box, Flickr / Joy Garnett ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ), modified The article featured below takes a unique approach that shows similarities and differences between the ol' recipe box and the science of genetics pioneered by creationist Gregor Mendel (peas be upon him). Both have sets of instructions for making an organism. Some living things could have similar ingredients, but differences in finer details yield different ...

Dogs at Chernobyl are Thriving

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When Ukraine was controlled by the Soviet Union, a nuclear power plant had a serious meltdown in 1986. People were killed in the explosion and many died of radiation poisoning in later months. A huge number of people from Pripyat and neighboring areas were forcibly and hurriedly evacuated. There is a large Exclusion Zone that was off-limits for years, but now there are people in it. Some areas are too hot (very radioactive) and can only be visited briefly or when wearing special suits. Strangely, the number of offspring of dogs left behind is increasing. Dog at Chernobyl, Flickr / Jorge Franganillo ( CC BY 2.0 ) Intense doses of radiation are usually a death sentence. If not very quickly, then because of cellular damage. Cancer-related diseases often result. The Master Engineer has put many things in place to protect and repair our cells and DNA, but they can only do so much. One would expect the dogs of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to be dying, mutating — and radioactive. Many appear...

Adoption and DNA Surprises

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The science of genetics, pioneered by Gregor Mendel (peas be upon him), shows that the differences we see in people are from a relatively small number of genetic variations. One may think that people from opposite parts of the globe would have radically different DNA. Nope. What is featured below contains an interesting story about how a Christian couple adopted two children from Asia. There were several instances of Providence involved, as well as love. In addition, this family agreed to have some DNA testing — with surprising results. Family in sunset, Pixabay / Gerd Altmann The parents are of European descent and the adopted children are from East Asia. The differences in the mitochondrial DNA tests were surprisingly small. This fits with what they Bible tells us: We are all descendants of Adam and Eve, and that there are no races. We also see even more evidence that the world was created recently. At some point in your life, you’ve probably wondered about your heritage. . . . Thank...

Mitochondrial DNA in Denisova Cave

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When given the right conditions, DNA can last a surprisingly long time without breaking down completely. There is a cave in Siberia that yielded information about the mysterious Denisovans, but very little is known about them. Like other people groups, they shared their DNA. This cave had mitochondrial (mt) DNA from three  groups of people, but researchers could not determine if they lived there at the same time. It appears that groups handed off that piece of real estate. There was a buildup of sediments in there as well, but secular dating methods are in disarray. Evolutionists are determined to force-fit different people groups into their classifications, but if they stripped away their assumptions, they might realize the differences between the groups are within ranges of people that we see even now. It would have been even more interesting if scientists went beyond examining mtDNA and considered nuclear DNA as well. At any rate, what was actually found is in keeping with ...

DNA Troubles Evolution with Doppelgänger Genes

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Some people throw around the German word doppelgänger  when they see a person who strongly resembles another, and some people look for a supernatural aspect. (Christian Rock band Daniel Amos used it as an analogy for our sin nature .) While there is nothing supernatural about the doppelgänger gene, more formally known as the Signal Recognition Particle 14, it spooks Darwin's acolytes. Yet again, the science of genetics (which was pioneered by Gregor Mendel, peas be upon him) has been unkind to evolution. It seems to this child that  doppelgänger genes are an Easter egg hidden by our Creator for modern scientists to find. DNA, Pixabay / Gerd Altmann (Geralt) Remember when I mentioned planograms? Those are like maps by which big retail stores are told where to lay out merchandise. I compare those to the evolutionary Tree of Life and clades. Evolutionists have their planograms where living things are expected to belong, but SRP 14 is mighty recalcitrant. Similar living things ha...

New Studies on the Venus Flytrap

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Although it only lives in a small area of the eastern United States, the Venus flytrap is quite famous. Cultivated versions are available for sale, but in its native habitat, it is endangered. People like to try to trigger it to close, but the Venus flytrap discriminates. The right areas must be touched a certain number of times, then that 100-millisecond trap springs shut. Potential prey seldom escapes, but this plant is still checking on what was caught. If it had received a false positive, it relaxes. Otherwise, it begins digestion after five more stimuli occur. Venus Flytrap, Flickr / Mark Freeth ( CC BY 2.0 ) The entire activity of Snappy has been studied all the way down to the DNA, and researchers learned that the best-watered plants have the fastest closure times. There is still more to learn, and Darwin's acolytes are using typical "it evolved" nonsensical words — nonsensical, because they are used to bamboozle the masses because they have no evidence. In reali...

Genetics and the Coffin of Darwinism

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It has been said that the works of Charles Darwin on evolution through natural selection managed to kill God. That is the opposite of the truth. There is an abundance of evidence linked here and other places refuting evolution and deep time, but also affirming recent creation and the young earth. People believe because they want to, not because they are compelled by the evidence . In fact, some Darwin doubters are becoming more vocal , and there would probably be more speaking out if they were not in fear of losing prestige or even their jobs. Meanwhile, fundamentalist evolutionists insist that genetics supports evolution. Not hardly! DNA, RNA, Amino acids codon table , public domain, mostly modified at LunaPic Because evolutionists interpret data with presuppositions rooted in atheistic naturalism, they have their biases confirmed — even when the evidence shows otherwise. These are the folks that gave us so-called vestigial structures, "junk" DNA, and other hindrances to med...

Mutations Further Wreck Evolutionary Speculations

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Charles Robert Darwin took the ancient pagan concept of evolution that had been kicked around for hundreds of years, gussied it up, and speculated about universal common ancestry through natural selection. Traditional Darwinism began to fade, but the modern synthesis  saved it from the scrap heap of history. Incorporating the science of genetics initiated by Gregor Mendel (peas be upon him), mutations  became vitally important. Time, mutations, and natural selection are a trifecta. While Darwin's cheerleaders claim that genetics and mutations support evolution, that is the opposite of the truth. DNA and Mutations, modified from Pixabay / Arek Socha DNA is a complex language or code that is comprised of four letters . A mutation is a transcription error, such as typing an account number of  12 02 1809 as 12 20 1809. Most mutations are harmful. Many have been considered neutral. However, they still add to the genetic load. Consider when running a registry cleaner on a Wind...