6. DNA: GOD’S SIGNATURE CREATION or
FIRST AMONG EQUALS?
By Dr. Earl Parvin – 9/14/19
Even the name scientist’s have given God’s Signature Creation, “Deoxyribonucleic Acid”, thankfully, DNA for short, is worthy of God the Architect’s achievement in Designing & Executing, reproducing LIVING THINGS [“Be fruitful…and fill the earth” Gen 1:22,24]. DNA is the MASTER “BLUEPRINT” of the MASTER architect for all Life on Earth. DNA is in fact a ‘Mini Library with information stored in macromolecules of 3 billion base pairs.. All living things are able to reproduce themselves after their own Kind, especially MANkind [V.28]. Even the complicated & difficult to pronounce name DNA only hints at the finesse and demanding complexity of the “Molecule of Life”. Or the engineering skill necessary, on the first try, [eons of trials & errors over vast periods of time, not needed for ‘survival of the fittest’. Because it was the fittest! G. 1:31 “God saw all that He had made, and it was VERY GOOD” [Heb. = SUPERLATIVE] and successfully produced in one creative week [G.2:1,2]. The plan was to be used over and again to produce billions of people to be born in the FEW [6] THOUSAND years since the one “Primeval Pair”, Adam & Eve: “mother of all living” human kind [Gen3:20]. No, Adam & Eve are not the basis of Darwin’s ‘Phylogenetic Tree of Common Descent’ or ‘Taxonomic Groups from ’A Common Ancestor’. DNA is the ‘information carrier’ in every cell of all living KINDS being able to reproduce themselves through the genius of DNA, after God created EACH KIND and gave it the BREATH OF LIFE. [Gen 1:30; 11-12;20-23; 24-25]. The ‘breath of life’ in scientific language is a ‘biomolecule’. [A normal chemical molecule has no life in it]. DNA is the “King of Molecules”, for this macromolecule is only found in living things. NOTE: God just spoke & it happened, “In the beginning God” majestically and succinctly says it all. [Gen 1:1; Jn 1:1]. Mankind is the “most complex thing we know about”. [Birney].
Question! Is it realistic to suggest that DNA is THE Signature Creation in God’s Creative Week? After all HE has designed absolute wonders, beyond comprehension, before DNA! For instance, He designed:1. TIME [In beginning], with its strange characteristics [like Gravitational time dilation] which anomalies are still being discovered & understood. 2. GALACTIC SPACE [heavens] with its PLANES [firmament] to receive Galaxies and myriads of stars in their prescribed orbits [Ps 8:3,4 “When I consider your heavens…what is man?]. 3. MATTER [earth = elements], as cataloged in the Periodic Table of Elements, which displays the minutia & ordered nature of the Atom in its subatomic world, making the world of Chemistry possible. 4. ENERGY [Sp. Hovering] which God so carefully packed into that miniscule atom, which those to be born would be able to use, but, neither to be able to create more of, nor destroy [according to the law of Conservation of Energy]. They could use it with abandon, but it is put into a less usable form. Energy manifests itself in a myriad of ways as expressed in the Electromagnetic Spectrum [EM] which includes: gamma rays, visible light & radio waves. LIGHT manifests in strange, majestic ways being both Particle & Wave as expressed in ‘Wave-Particle Duality’. Scientists must confess, “We cannot fully explain light” [Wikipedia]. Even so, the rainbow is certainly enjoyed by all, as is the aurora borealis. [The Atom, once thought to be indivisible, is now made up of Elementary Quarks]
5. By means of all these
materials God’s Son, the BUILDER, [Jn 1:3] made the masses of orbiting
Suns & Galaxies filled with numberless stars, each obediently orbiting in
their prescribed planes as a perfect symphony. 6. The BUILDER
enacted GRAVITY [which scientists have yet to understand or to reconcile
Newton’s and Einstein’s efforts to explain], to make the Celestials obey and
the Earth to come forth from its watery womb. 7. The Earth was ”to be inhabited”
[Is 45:18; Ps 115:16], by the residents living in the Earth’s self-healing
& self-sustaining ATMOSPHERE. It is amazing, the more carbon
dioxide man makes, the greener is the vegetation. Vegetation absorbs the C
and gives off
O [water] and O
[Oxygen]. 8. This is all possible because the Earth is precisely
orbiting 93 million miles from the sun without deviating as a Privileged
Planet. 9. That distance [called an Astronomical Unit] is the
measurement used to express the distance to all planets orbiting our sun,
a very special, near perfect sphere, G-Type Main Sequence star.
Let us agree, all of Creation is a Wonder to Behold. God [Elohim], the Architect, was revealing Himself in all His majestic, Architectural skills, God the Son as Builder, and God the Holy Spirit as Energizer. He had one overriding goal it seems. That is all of Creation was designed to glorify God in their own wonderful ways, because that is what they were created to do [Ps 145:10;148:3, Job 38:7]. However, man was created to love God out of a pure heart of Agape Love because he WANTED TO DO SO. Not because he had to as a slave ordered to obey [Du 30:20]. Also to serve Him with a pure and appreciative heart.
Whether the case can be made that DNA is THE Signature Creation, remains to be seen. Maybe it should be that DNA is but the First Among Equals? Regardless, the objective is to concentrate our attention on what the Bible clearly states in G. 3:20, that the original pair would be the progenitors of the entire human race as HIS crowning accomplishment. [Even the Evolutionists now propose 10,000 original pairs!] It therefore is God’s intent to reveal how He made it possible that one Primeval Pair had built into their DNA, not only their specific Genomes, but also the capacity to generate a whole world [7.6 billion] personal genomes, in their amazing diversity. That is a nightmarish assignment of humanly impossible or epic proportions. Only an Omniscient God could make that happen. It IS possible by means of DNA which contains 739 kilobytes of CodeS. DNA is not only for mankind but also includes all living kinds which God created individually.
The COMPUTER is one of man’s most grand accomplishments. It is amazingly simple in its basic design of using myriads of ‘on and off’ switches [transistors as small as a single Phosphorous Atom] which store information as ‘bits’ of either a ‘1’ or ‘0’ and yet awesomely complex in its “Chip” [which may contain millions of transistors] capable of doing multiple things at lightning speed, storing them in amazing amounts of memory with perfect recall. All by human DESIGN. [We note that this human creation, did require many upgrades or trials [i.e. of heat limits] and errors! Recall what is euphemistically called the “Microsoft Fix” = shut it off and restart! Amazing how often it works!]. Computers have altered modern life perhaps more than anything else. The computer was inspired in its awkward way to mimic the efficiency of the human brain with its hundred billions of neurons and trillions of synapses connected by axons, to coordinate the entire body’s entire integrated parts. It is to be expected that there is the desire to meld the human body with computer generated mechanisms to correct imperfections [i.e. amputees], or enhance declining elements [i.e. cochlear implants]. But the ultimate goal of scientists who have created Artificial Intelligence [AI] is now to create an Artificial Cerebral Cortex [Brain] for a Post Human whom they hope will be the ultimate ongoing Evolution of their dream of evolving mankind into strange Space Travelers able to adapt to New Worlds [Mars?], with very different conditions. After all, humans adapted to this atmosphere, they say. [Shades of Epigenetics]. The big hurdle scientists search for is to create the next generation of Quantum Computers using Quantum-Mechanical Phenomenon [i.e. Superposition, Entanglement & Qubits] which they hope will leave current Binary Digital computers based on transistors in the dustbin of history!
Most serious students of the Word accept the idea that God created Adam and Eve and no others. But most of us have not stopped to think of the logistics necessary to make that happen. Let us get serious about how seemingly impossible it is--- and on the first try!
DNA is the Master Blueprint which stores the instructions [knowledge if you will] to reproduce the body which is made up of approximately: 7 x 1027 atoms in 37 trillion cells of 200 different types, out of 41 chemical elements. Every cell is made up of MILLIONS of proteins. Each cell is too small to see without a microscope. The cell is intricately designed with numerous sub-divisions separated by protein membranes, including a nucleus in which is nestled the meticulously & precisely folded chain of Nuclear DNA. It includes instructions unique to each individual’s genome for those EVER to be born. The DNA instructions control the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all living organisms.
DNA is made of chemical building blocks called nucleotides. The nucleotides are made up of three parts: phosphates, sugars and nitrogen bases. The nitrogen chemical bases are 4 in number each with a name and designated by a letter: Adenine [A], Thymine [T], Guanine [G] & Cytosine [C]. The order and sequence of the 3 billion base pairs is super critical, for each base can only combine with another specific base. These combinations contain the biological instructions for every detail of each person’s traits [genes [25,000] stored in 23 chromosomes. The nucleotides are linked together in chains like a necklace.
DNA is the Master “Language” of three languages necessary to produce Proteins. Proteins are the building blocks from which all parts of each individual is made, including the bone matrix. DNA is located in the Nucleus of every cell in the body. It is tightly packaged as X-shaped Chromosomes and stored as a double helix which is super coiled around histones, like a circular staircase. Nuclear DNA cannot leave the Nucleus; therefore, it must unzip itself so that it can split down the middle to replicate itself as templates. Then one new strand can move out of the Nucleus into another portion of the cell as ‘messenger DNA’ called mRNA, the 2nd language. The mRNA enters the Ribosome Factory of the cell where it is joined with Amino Acids to produce a 3rd language or Protein. NOTE: There is a DNA-Protein Paradox. “(DNA and RNA) are necessary for protein production, and protein carries out nucleic acid production. A primitive cell could not exist without the simultaneous existence of both types of molecules and a system for faithful replication.” [Dr. Derrick Glasco, Dept Biology, BJY]. Dr Glasco has written about many other paradoxes in DNA.
The Protein Coding portion of DNA is but a very small portion of the code [2%] which has been sequenced, to determine the order of the constituent parts. The rest of the DNA, is not redundant leftovers of Evolution, but includes the instructions to make it possible to produce billions of people from the same DNA, as directed by the 98% not sequenced, as well as many other molecular processes.
The complete DNA instructions or human genome contains 3 billion bases and about 100,000 genes in a complete set of 46 chromosomes. Each ‘Chromosome 1’ contains 247 million base pairs. NOTE: “Over 100 gene expressions must coordinate near a ‘promoter’ to facilitate the expression of a single gene”. The whole process is “bewilderingly complex”. [Glasco]. [There are 22,000 protein coding genes]. Also 2600 Transcription Factors.
This complexity is seen in that a single gene may code for multiple proteins, which may also affect multiple functions [called pleiotropy] and the code is found to overlap and interweave. The genetic code has three sets of nucleotides called ‘codons’. There is a ‘start codon’ and a ‘stop codon’ in the sequence. There are 5 million protein sequences.
All forms of life are made up of four types of large molecules. They are: 1. Nucleic Acids [NA], 2. Proteins, 3. Lipids [fats] and 4. Carbohydrates. The most important of these biomolecules is the Nucleic Acids because they create, encode and store information. The method of storing is phenomenal. The encoded information is contained and conveyed in the two most important [NA] sequences: DNA and RNA. The structure is pictured as a double helix with the ladder’s steps being those NA sequences as base-pairs, the Codons.
A fascinating additional factor in the already observed multiple languages, overlapping of languages, on several levels of the DNA, is the linguistic technique called “Palindrome”. This means that a word such as ’Hannah’ reads the same backward and forward. This can be extended to sentences and long sequences of letters or words, such as DNA in its helical structure. One leg is mirrored backward in the other leg of the ladder.
Living organisms are unique in that they can extract energy from their environments. Every cell [except red blood cells], will have its own power supply [called MITOCHONDRIA [or several] called mitochondrion. These factories produce ATP [adenosine triphosphate], as chemical energy. The factory is very small [only 3 micrometers—visible only with an electron microscope] but very powerful. For instance, the kidneys [which has 270 billion cells] will have 2000 mitochondrion cells, to be able to filter 1.5 quarts of blood per minute & lliver to create a quart of bile daily to break down the food eaten. It is interesting to note that the Creator stipulated that mtDNA comes only from the mother; therefore, the male mtDNA is destroyed. Mitochondrion DNA , only from the mother, is therefore called Mitochondrial Eve.
Although the DNA molecule is 98% instructional, yet the overriding objective of the two percent [called a genome] is to create the building blocks from which the body in all of its parts will be made. There are many kinds of PROTEIN, each kind folds into its own unique shape. The field of Molecular Biology is feverously seeking to understand the complexity of the biochemical processes involved. Only a small portion of the DNA Code has been sequenced, the gene, can have up to a million bases. There are still a great many unknowns such as the CRITICAL Folding Code of each protein. Misfolding may play an important role in understanding certain diseases, such as cancer.
What is the purpose of the critical Folding Process? The answer lies in understanding something of the cellular world which DNA and Protein occupy. Human Cells come in various sizes, but the nucleus of each cell [where Nuclear DNA resides] is but 10 micrometers = µm [which is the diameter of spider web silk]. The DNA molecule when UNFOLDED however stretches out to SIX FEET! It contains six billion DNA base pairs of Amino Acids. The 6’ strand of DNA must be NANOSCALE FOLDED into its native three-dimensional structure of 10,000 non-overlapping LOOPS of chromatin to fit its ‘hyper-confined’ space. The loop domain essentially contains one gene and is divided into six sub-compartments. The folding pattern, [called DNA Oragami], also determines its function. The process of folding for storage is guided by the protein ‘histone’, spools around which DNA winds.
Recent research of the protein molecule, using super computers [meaning hundreds] and molecular microscopes through ‘X-ray Crystallography’ reveals that the folding process involving thousands of Atoms, automatically jump to their three-dimensional structure without hesitation. As if they knew exactly what to do??
PROTEINS [Gk = primary] are the main body builders of every living thing. The molecular structure of the human body is made up of hundreds of thousands of proteins. Each protein is made up of 50 to 2000 Amino Acids [AA], even though the body only uses the same 20 different kinds of the 200 AA available. Each AA is three-dimensional in nature. The AA can only be “Left Handed” [which is called Chirality], although the body also produces Right handed AA which amazingly DNA /RNA only uses. [Chirality is one of scientists major problems. How does the cell know which “handedness to use?].The sequencing of the Amino Acids in each protein, and the variety of Folding Patterns of the Protein Chain are critical and infinite. NOTE 1, each protein has a significant “native conformation” folding pattern which is critical and always three dimensional in structure. Amazingly, there is a “Chaperone” protein to insure the folding pattern is executed. The, “Protein Structure Initiative“ or [PSI], found some 4800 different protein folding patterns. NOTE 2, Proteins have “life span” averaging 1 to 2 days before they are ‘degraded’.
A Protein Atlas is being assembled to seek to make available data as it becomes available from research. There are many functions of proteins involved in the various structures of the body: 1. Protein Antibodies for defense; 2. Contractile Proteins cause movement of muscles, 3. Enzymes are Proteins which facilitate chemical reactions, 4. Hormonal Proteins are signaling messengers, 5. Structural Proteins support various structures such as the skin or bone matrix, 6. Storage Proteins store amino acids or iron as in hemoglobin & 7. Transport Proteins [cilia or flagellum] move liquids or cells.
Proteins may also be more broadly divided into three main types: 1. Fibrous [structural], 2. Globular [regulatory], & 3. Membrane [segregates]. This latter designation makes up nearly one third of all Proteins. A few illustrations follow:
1. Hair & Nails are made of Alpha-Keratin Protein.
2. Muscles = Actin +myosin = motor proteins
3. Oxygen is carried in blood by Hemoglobin protein
4. Brain signaling = facilitated by Ion Channel Protein
5. Signals are transmitted by = Receptor proteins
6. Saliva = enzymes are a form of protein [glands produce 1.5 liters per day]
7. Cartilage & tendons = are made from Collagen [3 strands coiled like rope] the most abundant protein on earth.
8. Immune System = uses antibody proteins found in differing shapes:
9. Y-shaped to bind to foreign invaders---: i.e. immunoglobulin G
10. Donut shaped proteins surround DNA to read copies of genetic information
11. Structural Scaffolding, extra-cellular matrix = Laminin = glycoproteins
12. Basement membrane = barrier + new blood vessels, c. to c. communication
13. Plaque = Amyloid protein [unhealthy p. folds & sticks together forming fibrils
14. Stabilize Microtubules = Tau Protein
15. Motor flagellum are powered by protein pump [i.e. sperm can swim]
16. Tendons, muscle = Fibrous proteins [also called Scleroprotein]
17. Bone matrix = Collagen Protein fibers [mineralized with calcium]
The CELL STRUCTURE [in which DNA resides] involves numerous parts, all made up of 1 to 3 billion different Proteins. 1. Cytoplasm [which surrounds the nucleus], 2. Cytoskeleton [fibers for the cell’s structure], 3. Endoplasmic Reticulum [Processes molecules created by the cell], 4. Golgi Apparatus [Packages molecules for transport outside cell], 5. Lysosomes & Peroxisomes [Recycling & digesting Bacteria which invade cell], 6. Mitochondria [converts food as useable energy], 7. Nucleus [Houses DNA as command center], 8. Plasma Membrane [contains cell], 9. Ribosomes [Create protein].
The trillions of cells with which God made up the human body are amazing factories in their own right. The cells may be divided into two major functions: 1. Germline cells contain hereditary information for progeny. 2. Somatic cells are the work horses of life. The DNA stored in each cell regulates not only what it does in its specific purpose, but it also determines just how long it will live. The cells lining the digestive tract function for only a few days in their Gastric Acid environment [ Hydrochloric Acid] before they reproduce themselves and commit Apoptosis or suicide called Programmed Cell Death [PCD] controlled by an internal clock. The body replaces one million cells per second. This cell destruction is so designed by the Creator that macrophages remove the residue of the cell automatically. The average cell with have 1000 to 2000 mitochondrion cells to power it.
Most Cells will have a cilium which senses the extra cellular environment. Epithelial cells which line blood vessels and organs sense: chemosensation [chemical], thermosensation [temperature] & mechanicosensation [mechanical] conditions.
Other cilia [plural of cilium] move liquids in a coordinated rhythmic wave motion, such as mucus up the respiratory tract, lubricating it. The motion of the cilia is provided by a protein microtubal-based cytoskeleton, called an axeoneme which can contain 600 proteins. It is indeed a ‘whip-like structure made up of 9 outer microtubal doublets and two central microtubal singlets which cause a bending motion. These microtubals are filaments, like pairs of cables, which can slide against each other. Think of the science in this machine.
The cilia can create a wave motion movement, but Flagella are a whip-like structure driven by a truely complex rotary motor with bearings, rotor & protein rings. This motor can spin up to 17,000 rpm, but normally with a whip only 1,000 rpm. Amazingly it can change rotation instantly. The motor is composed of 25 proteins including flagella protein and powered by multiple mitochondria cells. These flagella move sperm to find an egg [oocite] or germ cell to fertilize.
Flagellum motors are also an interesting aspect of “ancient” simple unicellular bacteria, which may have 7 motors. [so much for ’simple’] The human body has some 37 trillion human cells and is host to 39 trillion bacterial microbiota, involving 1000 subspecies. Many exist in the gut or mouth and are non-toxic.
The ‘LIFE CYCLE OF CELLS’ is a highly regulated process which is genetically motivated. It takes from 10 to 20 hours for a cell to replicate itself. Cell division is called Mitosis. The cell must first create a special machine called a ‘Mitotic Apparatus’ which exists only long enough for mitosis to take place. This apparatus divides the Chromosome for duplication.
Cell differentiation is a characteristic of Embryonic Stem-cells which can become any cell type in the body during the stages of development as guided by its DNA. Every person starts as one cell [zygote], which quickly divides and differentiates as directed into numerous types of cells. Embryonic Stem cells can migrate and become any organ. There are 79 organs in the body. Adult [somatic] Stem-cells are able to replenish dying cells, regenerate damaged tissue, limited essentially to the organ where it originates. There is ongoing research in this area.
The SYSTEMS OF THE BODY are: 1. Cardiovascular [4 parts], 2. Digestive [19], 3. Endocrine-hormones, 4. Integumentary [skin,hair,nails], 5. Lymphatic / immune [7], 6. Muscular / skeletal, 7. Nervous / neurons [12], 8. Renal / urinary, 9. Reproductive [7 female – 8 male] & 10. Respiratory [7].
The CARDIO-VASCULAR OR CIRCULATORY SYSTEM consists of the heart, blood and blood vessels. The heart consists of two pumps: one pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide. The other sends blood to the vascular system for distribution to the cells. The heart normally beats 100,000 times daily.
The heart [consisting of 2 billion heart muscle cells] is energized by the Autonomic Nervous System [ANS]. On the upper right side of the heart is a special cluster of cells [sinoatrial node] which generates the signals to stimulate the chambers in proper sequence. The brain monitors the heart beat and can signal to increase the rate. The heart then signals the adrenal gland to secrete adrenaline which then takes over the increased heart beat until the muscles relax and the brain again signals the gland to stop secreting and returns to ANS conrol. The heart pumps 5-6 qts blood as 2000 gallons of blood daily, making 1440 trips.
Red blood cells [erythrocytes], all 25 trillion, get rid of their nuclei so that they can carry more oxygen to the cellular factories, taking 60 seconds to course the body. They are donut shaped and flexible to be able to pass through 60,000 miles of vessels, arteries & veins and 40 billion tiny capillaries. The cells are replenished every month, but the White Blood Cells can be replaced in a few hours as they destroy pathogens which invade the body.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. The system consists of organs and structures for the exchange of gases, fresh oxygen and discarded carbon dioxide. The system consists of: Paranasal sinuses, Nose, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchi, Right and Left Lungs in which are located the millions of microscopic air sacs [alveoli] where the gas exchange takes place. The alveoli are surrounded by the pulmonary veins with carbon dioxide to be exhaled, and the pulmonary artery with oxygenated blood to be distributed. NOTE: Gas must be liquefied to be able to pass through a membrane and then return to a gas to finish its journey.
Lung action [breathing] requires the coordination of the Diaphragm and Rib Cage Intercoastal Muscles, as controlled by the ANS. We normally breathe 20,000 times daily.
BODY’S DEFENSE SYSTEM. Five Billion Pathogens in air, water and land are ready to attack the body. Living on the body are 10,000 species of Bacteria giving rise to 100 Trillion mostly harmless bacteria.
Thus God has given the body defense systems which are unique and extremely complex to combat its enemies. The skin [largest organ with18 square feet] is the first line of defense to keep pathogens at bay. Skin cells are replaced monthly. The epidermis is the surface layer in which are found special cells [melanocytes] which create the protein Melanin. It is shipped to surrounding cells to spread over their nucleus to shield it from dangerous ultraviolet rays.
The overlaying skin is made up of dead cells [corneocytes] welded together as body armor, only .01 mm thick which is about the thickness of clear plastic wrap
There are antibacterial proteins on the skin, throat, nasal passages & lungs. There is saliva in the mouth and acid in the stomach, as well as detoxifying chemicals in the liver. The eyes and lungs are protected by mucous, described as ‘oil in the engine’, that it not seize up! The sticky mucous not only moisturizes, but traps unwanted viruses & bacteria, killing them with enzymes.
THE IMMINE SYSTEM [IS]. If the skin is breached, an army of billions of immune cells in 20 different ways, destroy invading viruses and bacteria. The system is layered with increasing specificity. The body responds with INFLAMATION of the area by increased blood cells. Numerous kinds of White Blood Cells or leucocytes identify and eliminate pathogens. White blood cells number up to 11,000 per microliter of blood. They are only 1% of the blood by volume, but immunity depends on it.
Lymphocytes, a part of the Adaptive Immune System, are sometimes called “killer cells”. The ‘T cells’ [which originate in the thymus] or ‘B cells’ [originate in bone marrow] are Stem Cells which can differentiate. As such they discover invaders, adapt, destroy and remember their molecular marker or ‘fingerprint’. They can do this because they have a nucleus.
Phagocytes, when called by chemical signals, move to the infected site by chemotaxis and moved by flagellum motors. Locating the pathogen, it is engulfed. One liter of Blood contains 6 billion phagocytes. Phagocytes have ’pattern recognizing receptors’ which can identify invaders. They are preprogrammed to attack and remove dead or dying cells.
God, determined to protect the Brain from blood borne pathogens, created a “blood-brain barrier” [BBB].This “semipermeable membrane barrier, through four main interfaces of tight junctions, separates circulating blood from the brain and extracellular fluid in the central nervous system. Yet, metabolic glucose and specific proteins are allowed to pass.
There are 79 ORGANS IN the BODY. They are classified as: Musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive, endocrine glands, circulatory, nervous and sensory.
The CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM [CNS] consists of the Brain and Spinal Cord. The brain receives signals from the sensors distributed throughout the body and then responds with commands. Both, signals received or sent, involve the Spinal Cord.
The SENSES are usually: Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste & Touch, but for a more comprehensive picture of the world we have: 1. Proprioception [whereby the mind locates its body parts[, 2. Equilbrioception [involves the eyes, ears, balance using the Vestibular system], 3. Nociception [recognizes stress & pain], 4. Thermioception [sensors over body noting heat or cold], 5. Ophthalmoception [sight involves Rods for light intensity and Cones recognize 3 colors], 6. Audioception [Hearing], 7. Olphacoception [Taste through hundreds of chemical receptors in tongue],& 8. Tactioception [touch].
THE HUMAN BRAIN, composed of 100 billion nerve cells, is Commander in Chief of the body’s organs. It is the major control network and automatic operation of vital organs. There are various divisions of the brain: 1. The Cerebrum or Cerebral Cortex [is divided into several ‘lobes’: Frontal - controlling problem solving, judgment; Parietal – writing, sensation; Temporal – memory, hearing; Occipital - visual ]. 2. The Cerebellum [which controls the motor functions & balance is attached to the Brain Stem], 3. Spinal Column [which connects to the body]. Only 10% of the brain is neurons. The rest is grey matter or Glial cells in which the synapses are created. What all it does is still a mystery. The brain consumes 25% of the body’s glucose or sugar. The brain has super plasticity.
The brain is still being sliced and diced to determine just how it is able to act as Central Command [CC] to coordinate the activities of 79 organs, including the Five Senses,10 Systems and trillions of 200 different kinds of independent cells with their own DNA and power supply., using only 20 watts of power & 20% of oxygen.. [Supercomputers use 100,000 X power to service non-living parts which cannot match the ability of living cells.]
The Hypothalamus [size of an almond] is a portion of the brain which maintains ‘homeostasis’ [normal functioning of the clock or circadian rhythms] in the body and various other functions such as producing several essential hormones regulating blood pressure, body temperature and weight. It also is involved with DNA replication, transporting molecules to various locations and interacting of trillions of cell factories.
The Pituitary Gland [size of a ‘pea’] interfaces the Nervous System and the Endocrine systems. It is sometimes called the Master Gland, because it controls many other glands such as those involved with the very complex reproductive system. There is a vast array of differences between male and female brains, which has implications in the current obsession & confusion over sexual orientation or gender identity.
The organizing of the cerebrum involves right & left hemispheres, surrounded by a layer of tissue called Meninges and Cerebrospinal fluid which acts as a shock absorber for blows to the skull. Each hemisphere is a mirror image containing outer grey matter [cerebral cortex] & inner layer of white matter. Brain activity functions in both hemispheres. The spheres are interdependent and connected by the Corpus Collosum.
Cerebral Spinal Fluid System [CSF] not only acts as a shock absorber, but also provides immunological protection and controls cerebral blood flow. The cerebrospinal fluid pulses through the brain removing Metabolic Waste products. It is especially active while the body is resting and the brain cells have atrophied during sleep.
The reason for two interdependent hemispheres has too many possible explanations, but my synthesis is as follows. God designed this CC with the full knowledge of the demands which it would face in man’s insatiable demand for knowledge. In Genesis 12:4 Daniel was instructed to write: “Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” That is exactly what is happening. One scientist has suggested that the Human Cerebral Cortex has the memory capacity of 1000 Terabytes. [The 19 million volumes of the Library of Congress would equal 10 Terabytes]. The efficiency of the cortex to handle the information it must process is thus enhanced by its dual interdependent capacity.
The Cerebral Cortex [think: computer processor] is designed with four divisions and able to heal, reroute, build or dismantle its complex, multilevel circuits. It uses 25% of the body’s metabolism in its extensive operations and is irrigated by 3 main pairs of cerebral arteries.
Studies show
that 74% of all human proteins are active in the Human brain as chronicled in
the Brain-Specific Proteome. Much of the protein activity is classified as
Housekeeping. That means how the brain acts as CC. Signals are received,
processed [at 100 milliseconds - ms] and sent via a vast network of Neurons
[nerves], Axons [cabling of protoplasmic fibers] and Synapses
[coordinating centers] at the phenomenal speed of 200 ms, involving 100
quadrillion [
] connections.
Think of what the brain must handle for a pianist who is playing 30 successive
notes, 40 milliseconds apart, or a runner who is running the marathon, or a
high speed typist, who is typing 75 words per minute.
Synaptic Signaling and Transmission is the main function. There are 150 Trillion chemical synapses in the brain which connect Axons to Dendrites, or axons to axons or synapses to synapses or myriads of other options. A typical neuron communicates with several thousand synapses. Synapses can form synaptic networks of inter communication. When a synapse receives a signal, it starts a list of 9 decisions which must be made to process the signal. That signal is then sent via an electrochemical pulse or perhaps as photons for faster communication.
A Neuron is an electrically excitable cell with a nucleus and mitochondrion [power cells]. It processes and transmits electrochemical signals [neurotransmitters]. It may have multiple axons & dendrites [branches] which is called ‘multipolar’. There are several kinds of neurons: Sensory [which connects to senses], Motor [which signals muscles & glands] and Interneurons [which connects several neurons]. Neurons never replicate or die. They number some 100 billion. Dopamine is manufactured by neurons as a neurotransmitter in the brain which influences several functions including executive and motor control. Addictive drugs increase dopamine production which gives rise to impulsive behavior.
An Axon, which looks like a sausage of nodes, is a conduit of ‘protoplasmic fibers’ bundled as nerve fibers covered with a sheath of Glial [glue] cells which produce layers of the protein Myelin [a dielectric]. It sends electrochemical signals [neurotransmitters] throughout the body.
Chemical Synapses, numbering 150 trillion, allow a neuron to send a signal to another neuron through what is called ‘molecular machinery’. A signal received activates a chemical called a neurotransmitter which in turn communicates with a ‘receptor’. The signal may be sent on or denied. The brain has ‘neuroplasticity’ which means it can heal or reroute circuits. [This is a problem for robotics]. During sleep synapses undergo shrinkage.
Memory Encoding is now thought to be involved with this massive synaptic inter activity.
It is interesting to note that Neurons are primarily made of fats. Neurotransmitters are composed of Amino Acids, which are the basic ingredients of Protein.
The SPINAL CORD is an amazingly complicated distribution system of signals from and to the brain to the limbs of the body. It is an overwhelming wonder to behold. It clearly defies the dexterity of an army of engineers, especially when the spinal cord of 31 segments traverses an amazing flexibility within the Vertebral Column of segmented bones separated by intervertebral discs. The bones include ‘facet joints’ and two small holes called [intervertebral foramena] or [IVF] through which ‘spinal nerves’ of the Peripheral Nervous System leave. Yet God. How the brain can sort, interpret and respond to the body’s extensive sensors and then respond with appropriate action commands is beyond belief. A robot is quite amazing in what it can accomplish, but limited by human ingenuity and thus unable to act upon unprogrammed responses.
In Metabolic Network, God has ingeniously made it possible for life to sustain itself by Chemically Transforming food into Energy, the building blocks for Protein, Lipids, Nucleic Acids and Carbohydrates. It all starts in the gut after a lovely dinner. Saliva enzymes start to break down the food so that it can be used by the cells. Then eliminate the nitrogenous waste. Metabolism really involves the 7 x 1027 atoms in 37 trillion cells in the body and their bonding ability. DNA is really all about chemistry and mathematics. Note: cells make no Vitamins. The body can make D and K, but the eleven others are realized from the diet. It is all designed by an Intelligent Designer Who never has to say, OOPS. Let’s try again, but rather “MAGNIFICENT”.
Is it not fascinating that God, the engineering genius built into His DNA miracle body the ability for some parts to multitask. Consider the once thought useless appendix is able to help the immune system as well as the digestive system. The human ear not only provides hearing, but also a sense of balance. The nose adds the ability to smell but also to breathe Our hair not only provides beauty but also excretes toxins. {A & F, 12/17, p.21].
METABOLISM is called, ‘the Unity of Life’. God designed living things to be able to extract energy from their environment. This process involves transforming carbon-based compounds into energy [ADP] which every cell will utilize to create highly complex proteins. It is amazing that Carbon [C] can form more compounds than all other elements combined. Carbon makes up 18% of body mass. Millions of C. atoms form thousands of molecules in every cell. Metabolic pathways are used in all living things. What a wonder is DNA.
The wonders of DNA just keep multiplying. Thus far we have seen that DNA is made up of several languages which do many amazing things. Two percent of DNA becomes RNA to produce Proteins almost innumerable. The 98% of DNA has in it another language which is GENOMIC, that is permanent instructions using the proteins to produce each and every human being ever to be born in his genetic diversity. Then would you believe another language is EPIGENETIC. This means that the human genome has built into it Twelve Chemical Markers which are impermanent, environmentally controlled TAGS that can control the expression of the genes. Some epigenetic factors can be: in utero, childhood, environment chemicals, drugs, aging & diet. These are not changes to the DNA sequencing, but can be heritable. Life is more complex than thought. Not just DNA controlled.
FINALLY notice, when God created the Universe and all in it, each kind was a mature, finished product, able to reproduce itself, through the genius of DNA. This we have been observing. As we conclude this study, we take a quick look at the marvel of the adult’s ability to reproduce. Nowhere is the Magnificent Planning of the finished project more obvious than in procreation. The Female Reproductive System is a wonder to behold. The preborn female starts making preparation for cloning herself while she is still in the womb. At birth she will have made up to 2 million follicles [potential eggs or oocytes].At puberty 400,000 will remain. Only 340 of these will mature in her ovaries periodically following puberty, one at a time over her reproductive years, ovulating alternately from the right or left ovaries! The one-celled ovum [the largest cell in her body], will have all the necessary instructions [DNA] to become her likeness [genome] in minute detail [gene]. The male on the other hand produces ten million immature sperm daily [the smallest cell in his body], which commit apoptosis if not used. [This is Genetic Code use of ‘gene’. The ‘gene’ can also code for protein].
At female ovulation several events take place. 1. A matured ovum [which is a haploid cell after meiosis, via the mitotic spindle created only half a set of chromosomes] enters one of the fallopian tubes to begin a week’s travel toward the uterus, moved by cilia lining the tubes. 2.the cervix, which closes the end of the vagina canal, where the immature spermatozoa are deposited, begins to enlarge to filter and allow the passage of the sperm [other haploid cells] into the uterus. 3. The female’s immune system in her genitalia must be turned off, lest phagocytes attack and destroy the sperm which would be seen as a foreign invader! 4. The mammary glands are activated and a myriad of other system alerts.
Meitosis, or the splitting of the oocyte cell, undergoes a double splitting, creating four daughter haploid cells. But only one of these haploid daughter cells will mature and the other three will die by apoptosis. God so designed this process to assure a perfect haploid cell to be fertilized.
The million immature spermatozoa deposited in the acidic vagina, must be coated with an alkaline covering. Then they must be ‘capacitated’ to be competent to fertilize the ovum. Capacitation is a biochemical process whereby the sperm’s head is enlarged and the flagellum are hyper activated and begin to spin at 1000 rpm. This is important, for only the properly formed and robust will be able to make the passage through the filtering cervical mucus barrier. Only one of the successful will be able to fuse to and fertilize the egg which then becomes a [diploid cell, after a recombination of the haploids, resulting in a full complement of chromosomes, half from each partner, now a gamete] and known as a zygote for implantation. At fertilization there is a series of “sparks” signaling a new life.
The zygote within 5 days will be implanted on the prepared uterine wall to receive the mother’s blood and nutrients through the placenta to begin the three trimesters or nine month gestation of one cell to become 45 trillion ultimately. Within hours of fertilization; the embryonic STEM CELL begins cleavage [cell division]. Stem cells have “potency” [ability to do certain things]. A. Totipotent, [able to become any cell in body] becomes a multicelled Morula. By further multiplication it becomes a Blastocyst in which cells now become either: B. Pluripotent able to produce: 1. Endoderm cells [of stomach and lungs]; 2. Mesoderm cells [for muscles, bones & urogenitalia]; 3. Ectoderm cells [for the nervous system]; C. Multiopotent to produce Hematopoeic stem cells for bone and blood cells; or D. Unipotent cells which are able to only produce one type of cell [such as needed in an emergency].
In the first trimester all the major organs are developing. Within 3 weeks the heart is forming from a tube as the first organ. It begins to beat within weeks. The baby will be born with 300 bones, which will fuse and become 206 as an adult.
The actual birth itself is another wonder to behold. . The baby’s heart begins on the 5th month. Its blood supply is from the placenta of the mother. The lungs develop, but are not supplied with blood from the baby. Instead there is a bypass artery and a small hole [foramen ovale] in the wall separating the two pumps. At birth, the lungs inflate at first breath, a flap forms closing the hole and a chemical causes the bypass artery to close. [Some engineering for these procedures.]
CONCLUSION – This study is but a tiny sampling of the brilliance of DNA expression and its ability to repair itself to maintain integrity. Scientific exploration and discovery, especially in the fields of neurosciences, biochemistry, nanotechnology and the developing science of Femtosecond X-ray Protein Nanocrystallography, especially the later, helps to better understand the structure of proteins and the universal importance of it in the body. Everything in the body in some way involves HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF proteins.
It is amazing how our Omniscient God was able to pack into a single Stem [Germ] Cell all the information necessary for trillions of cells to fully function independently, because each cell has DNA. RNA is guiding as cells divide. Yet the cells cooperate seamlessly with every other cell in the body on demand via the direction of the Brain command center. God knew that sin would put a curse upon His creation; [“do not eat --dying you will die – G 2:17 Heb] and entropy entered the system. Millions of pathogens seek to attack the body. Cell division [duplication] can give rise to 10,000 errors per day per cell. Therefore, God built into the systems self-correction mechanisms. Note: Proof of male and female haploid cells uniting into a diploid cell at conception is seen in a biracial family bearing identical twins of two different colors.
In this treatise, we have not sought to display God’s ingenuity in the DNA of Plants and Animals. It too is a marvel to behold. Consider for instance, that plants have been designed by God, that when they are being attacked by some predator, to give off an odor, which can be sensed by birds [also designed by God in their DNA] to come and eat the predator. DNA, is surely God’s Signature Creation.
This study flies full in the face of the accepted position of the Evolutionist, who will take the exact same research results and still maintain that mankind had a Bestial Origin via trial & non-human error or pre-human experimental effort ,through eons of time, versus the orderly, majestic work of an Architect who meticulously & flawlessly designed a perfect work of art the very first time, which needed no tweaking.
God’s creation of man was indeed superlative and super complex. As seemingly of little significance as the common earlobe is, notice the following quote: “Seemingly simple traits turnout to be not simple at all due to the networked interconnectivity of genes in complex dynamic systems throughout the genome”. [Dr. Tomkins, ICR, A.& F, 2/18, p.15].
Job concludes, God “made His wonderful works to be remembered” [KJV} or [“has caused His wonders to be remembered” NIV]
Dr. Robert Jastrow, PhD in Theoretical Physics, admits “there is a case for a Creator. Trying to squeeze God out was a bad dream”.
I am impressed, more than ever, that only God the Architect could have produced such a Masterpiece in DNA. Did you notice the SECRET Genetic Code HIDDEN within the Protein code? Both mechanisms work seamlessly & simultaneously, because some Codons operate as DUONS because they can and do code for both. There are so many codes which operate independently and corporately. The reading of the DNA codes can start at either end or in the middle and read both ways. The codes operate on four different levels. Some genes overlap. Not only does DNA code for Protein, but there is a hidden code for Heredity. That is INGENIOUS CRAFTSMANSHIP.
And it gets better with developing research. In 2018 Neuroscientists discovered a “strange new cell, found only in the brain of humans which had alluded them. It is called, ‘Rosehip Neuron because of its distinctive looking unique shape. That is, it resembles the shape of the Rosehip plant. It has ‘bulbs’ on the end of its axons which release neurotransmitters which calibrate unique sets of genes acting as inhibitors to the pyramidal cells of the brain. Now why are we not surprised, that God designed Rosehip Neurons as unique only in human brains. Stay tuned… it can only get better. How about magnetic particles in the brain? Or every cell in the body has the entire genome in it with only certain sets of the 25,000 genes turned on.
Then, I note, that God appears to have designed man to live forever. [ G.3:22] However with the advent of sin, a curse was placed upon the entire creation. Entropy would take a toll. Cells would have a life span [internal clock] and then automatically die, called apoptosis. The cells would have a time span during which they could reproduce themselves. On the end of each of the chromosomes which store the DNA, is a series of telomeres which diminish with each cell division. These telomeres are not numberless. Job says, Man’s days are determined [14:5] or his “allotted months come to an end” [21:21. Or “days ordained” [ Ps 139:16]
ADDENDA 1- The Blue Brain Project {started in 2005}, Henry Markham, director, says [7/ 2017] , “It is hard to understand the relation of the brain structure and its function;” therefore, they are seeking to create a “biologically accurate recreation of the human brain”. By means of an ‘Algebraic Topology’ added to their Computer-generated model, they are discovering that the brain sees the world in ways “almost beyond comprehension”. They predict a brain architecture involving a ‘neural network structure’ of up to 11 dimensions, depending on the activity of complex ‘cliques’ [groups interacting] of neurons and ‘cavities’. The structured pyramids are dismantled as not needed. They say, “There is a lot more to learn”. How true. [Studying Neocortical Columns]
ADEDENDA 2 - IBM’S True North Chip” costing millions, the size of a postage stamp, seeks to mimic the human brain, because it “functions as neurons and synapses. This is a “neuromorphic CMOS integrated circuit, with many cores [4096] processor network on a chip”. They liken it to the Left Brain. They hope to configure it to do the work of the Right Hemisphere so it can reason & learn. At this point, they are approaching the human brain capacity of 10 to 10th neurons and 10 to 14th synapses. This computer is being called interestingly, “SyNAPSE”, because it is “brain-like” in structure. It has 5.4 B. transistors. NOTE: It will always be a machine, not living cells which can not be duplicated].
IBM’s DeepQA Project: [The AI platform for professionals on the Cloud] Watson is now called “Intelligence Augmentation” which seeks to ‘answer questions or sort the explosion of knowledge” into useable segments of information for those needing to keep up in medicine or science.
ADDENDA 3 – Google X Baseline The study hopes to recruit 10,000 volunteers over 2 to 3 years. Participants will be tested for their genome sequence, blood proteins, and biochemical or so-called metabolomic profiles; in some cases, these data may eventually be combined with their electronic health records. Some participants will be healthy; others will have disease. The goal is to tease out new biomarkers that can detect diseases such as cancer and heart attacks earlier. Google wants to define health using Big Data
Google Translation says they have switched from ‘phrase based translation’ to ‘Google Neural Machine Translation which means translating a whole sentence or neural nets.
ADDENDA 4 – Human Brain Project [2013 – 23 European collaboration to understand the human brain function & structure to figure how to get large systems to learn.]
ADDENDA 5 – Artificial Intelligence [AI], the brainchild of the 21st century, is but the precursor of their real dream, the Artificial Cortex or Robotics. Scientific publications are predicting that Robots will be able to outthink humans in the near future. The human brain can perform 1,000,000 trillion operations per second. Super computers can now do 93,000 trillion. The human brain uses 20 watts to do this, while computers consume 10 million watts. The human brain does billions of transactions simultaneously, while the computer does one task at a time quickly [AM Nov-Dec 2017 P.36-37]. They have a ways to go!
Elon Musk, of SpaceX warns, AI is the “biggest risk we face as a civilization” and needs to be regulated. Information doubled every 12 months. Will become every 12 hours! By 2027 there may be 150 billion sensors collecting data. Amazing they are fearful of what man may seek to accomplish.
Jeff Hinton, ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS. Human brain uses 100 trillion synapses which can be working simultaneously. A problem for Machine Deep Learning. Now a silicon chip tries. Graphcore’s chip is 16 nm massively parallel, mixed-precision floating point processor", codenamed Colossus [2018]. [Bulk synchronous parallel processing]
ADDENDA 6 – Amazon’s ALEXA is their Virtual Assistant, or talking devices. Computer chips are being redesigned to work like the human brain. Cyber-physical systems are being called the “4th Industrial Revolution”.
I summarize this dream thus: [Man did not evolve; therefore, cannot evolve into a Robot]
God is the Eternal Self-existent ONE, the CREATOR & sustainer of LIFE
Man, is God’s creation & is totally dependent on Him [not able to become God]
Robot [Artificial Intelligence or cortex], is man’s effort to copy himself & is totally dependent on his own limited intelligence; therefore, not able to improve on himself, or conquer death. He is doing amazing things to correct matters addressable to the Adamic Nature, for God created us to be HIS eternal friends, not robots].
ADENDA 7 – NETCOME is a Brain Preservation Foundation:” BPF is a nonprofit research organization, and our mission is to promote scientific research and services development of whole brain preservation for long-term static storage. This is presently very important for scientific and medical brain banking and connectomics research”. The concept hopes to be able to “image a brain [of pig?], by injecting embalming fluid to preserve the brain while it is uploaded”, obviously killing the animal; therefore, controversial. Brain Connectomics is the desire to see ‘neural networks using high speed 3D scanning electron microscopy’ called: Conjugate Light-Electron Array Tomography”.
They admit that they cannot image the firing mechanism of neural networks, because it is caused by Proteins. They also admit that they “lack adequate single synapse measurement methods to discover the molecular composition of synapses’.
It is speculated that memory somehow involves synapses; therefore, perhaps by studying brain connectomics may find a way to revive memory loss. However, it is also a goal to map the brain to leave for future generations. [April 2018]. This is said to be ‘a new field scientifically verified brain preservation, better than simple Cyronics./
ADENDA 8 – RACE National Geographic Magazine [4/2018] produced a whole magazine on “SKIN DEEP: THE SCIENCE OF RACE? The entire thesis is Evolutionary showing a 2 page spread of a baby and a chimp with the caption: 99% same DNA. The implication obviously is they evolved over eons of time with no option of a common Creator. It is interesting to note that the genetic difference in skin color involves 20,000 genes, but no indication of 150 MILLION BASE PAIRS DIFFERENCE in the genetic difference between the child & chimp.
ADENDA 9 – ORGANOID is a recapitulated organ created in vitro by using embedded induced Pluripotent stem cells in a 3D medium. These stem cells are able to self-organize & differentiate into whatever cell types are needed for that organ. They are seeking to create new organs from an individual’s own stem cells for transplanting and not arousing the person’s own immune system. The hope is to reconstitute any organ: i.e. even a cerebral organoid or new brain.
ADENDA 10 – GENDER IDENTITY is a strange misnomer. DNA dictates one’s natural gender. Genetic research is making it abundantly clear that God did indeed “create them Male and Female” [G.1:27;5:2; Mtt 19:4; Mk10:6]. God built into each gender, multiple differences in chromosomal destiny through genetic differences, manifest in anatomy, musculature, metabolism, hormonal responses including mental and emotional response systems. Even brain scans reveal that Anatomy is indeed destiny. Why the confusion in even seeking to name how some want to identify themselves. We live in a confused and confusing society under outlandish stress enhanced by the lack of moral and ethical standards. God’s created design is being amazingly & only partially deciphered; therefore, the tinkering with the genetic structure via the critically exact CRISPR-Cas9, although titillatingly exciting from a research viewpoint, is exceedingly dangerous because of God’s super complex creation. There is just so much that is not known and every cell has the entire genome built in. [The not understood DNA contains the instructions making it work.]