Unraveling Contradictions: From Fossil Forests to Junk DNA

Analyzing the Arguments Suzanne Phillips and Arthur Chadwick

Outline Examples from the Bible of individuals confronted with seemingly unassailable arguments. Examples of individuals who have been confronted with seemingly unassailable arguments from science. How we should respond to arguments from science which appear to contradict the Bible account of earth history

Bible Scientists Bible Scientists History of Individuals Challenged with Data that History of Individuals Challenged with Data that Contradicted the Word of God Contradicted the Word of God Eve Noah

The story of Yellowstone Fossil Forests Late 1800 s Fossil Foresrs of Yellowstone National Park were discovered and study began. Concluded many generations of forests grew and then were successively destroyed by volcanic catastrophes over many tens of thousands of years. Recognized as a problem for the Adventist view of earth history. Caused many to lose their confidence in God s word, and some left the Adventist Church. Some others began research on the Fossil trees to see what further research might reveal.

The story of Yellowstone Fossil Forests After decades of research, and special help from God, new interpretations appeared to contradict the earlier assertions about the trees. The new interpretations favored a catastrophic interpretation for the Fossil Forests. We will hear this story in a later talk. Those who left their faith because of the earlier interpretations have not chosen to return to their former faith after the recent work, insofar as we know. This is a warning for us.

The story of Junk DNA DNA was known half a century ago to be the source of information for making proteins, the active component of cellular functions. We knew DNA RNA Protein, and this became the unassailable TRUTH of molecular biology. In the early days of our understanding of DNA, it was assumed that all of the DNA was involved in making proteins. As scientists began to unravel the structure of DNA, it became apparent that a great deal of the DNA was not involved in making proteins. By the 1970 s, It was assumed that the rest of the DNA was not needed, and was remnants of evolutionary process, thus Junk DNA

Richard Dawkins on Junk DNA Richard Dawkins on Junk DNA Before Before ENCODE ENCODE: : Pseudogenes Pseudogenes are have have now now been been sidelined sidelined and and are as as well well not not exist, exist, as as far far as as the the animal's scientist scientist is is concerned concerned they they very need need for for an an evolutionary evolutionary clock embarrassing embarrassing creationists creationists. . It It stretches up up a a convincing convincing reason reason why why an pseudogene pseudogene -- --a a gene gene that that does appearance appearance of of being being a a superannuated superannuated version something, something, unless unless he he was Dawkins Dawkins then then continues continues: : "Leaving "Leaving pseudogenes that that the the greater greater part part ( (95 95 percent percent in in the as as well well not not be be there, there, for for all all the Earth, Earth, 2009 2009, , pp pp 332 332- -333 333. . are genes genes that are never never transcribed transcribed or or translated animal's welfare welfare is is concerned very much much exist, exist, and and they clock. . .. .. . . . . What What pseudogenes stretches even even their their creative an intelligent intelligent designer designer should does absolutely absolutely nothing version of of a a gene was deliberately deliberately setting pseudogenes aside, the case case of of humans) the difference difference it it makes makes. ." " The that once once did did something something useful translated. . They concerned. . But But as as far they are are exactly exactly what pseudogenes are creative ingenuity ingenuity to to make should have nothing and and gives gene that that used setting out out to to fool aside, it it is is a a remarkable remarkable fact humans) of of the the genome The Greatest Greatest Show useful but They might might far as as the what we are useful useful for but the we for is is make have created created a a gives every used to to do fool us us. ." " every do fact might Show on genome might on

The story of Junk DNA By the year 2000, when the Human Genome Project has completed the first phase of its work, we came to realize that only a small part of the DNA was coding for proteins, about 1.5%. What was the rest of the DNA doing? It seemed obvious that it could not be doing nothing, a conclusion that creationists had long since reached based on our understanding that the cell was the result of an intelligent design. The US Government launched a new project called the Encode Project to find out. Their conclusions after a decade of research were astonishing to some, but anticipated by others.

Junk DNA Junk DNA The The encyclopedia encyclopedia of of DNA project project launched launched by (NHGRI) (NHGRI) in in September September 2003 accomplishment accomplishment described 80 80% % of of the the human human genome biochemical biochemical function function. . ( (2012 is is involved involved in in the furthermore furthermore the the expression multiple multiple regulatory regulatory sites these these results results demonstrate demonstrate that than than was was previously previously believed DNA elements elements (ENCODE) by the the US US national national human 2003, , (including (including over described by by the the ENCODE genome is is now 2012) ) Much Much of of this the regulation regulation of of the expression of of each sites located located both that gene believed. . (ENCODE) is is a a public human genome genome research over 400 400 scientists) scientists). . One ENCODE consortium consortium has now "associated "associated with this functional functional non the expression expression of of coding each coding coding gene gene is is controlled both near near and and distant distant from gene regulation regulation is is far public research research research institute One main has been been that with at at least least one non- -coding coding DNA coding genes controlled by from the the gene far more more complex institute main that one DNA genes. . by gene. . complex

Richard Dawkins on Junk DNA Richard Dawkins on Junk DNA After After ENCODE ENCODE: : "I "I know have have jumped jumped on Darwinism Darwinism. . Quite Darwinist Darwinist would would hope world world. . know there on it it because because they Quite the the contrary, contrary, of of course hope for for -- -- is is to to find there are they think are some some creationists creationists who think it it is is awkward course. . It It is is exactly exactly what find usefulness usefulness in in the who for awkward for what a a the living living

The story of Pseudogenes Scientists discovered that some regions of DNA looked like genes, but did not make any protein products. In some cases they looked like genes that had experienced harmful mutations. Chimpanzees have some of these same pseudogenes, with the same differences from the original gene as in humans. This led to the assertion that pseudogenes proved that humans and chimpanzees had a common ancestor. An Adventist, Gary Gilbert picked up on this and shared it widely in the Adventist community. It was the evidence that persuaded many to leave the Adventist faith.

The story of Pseudogenes Pseudogenes Pseudogenes are not pseudo any more are not pseudo any more The The study study of of functional functional pseudogenes pseudogenes is is just There There remain remain many many questions questions to to be regulatory regulatory elements elements controlling controlling the expression expression of of pseudogenes pseudogenes. . But, pseudogenes pseudogenes are are really really functional, functional, not more more as as just just junk junk or or fossil fossil DNA pseudogenes pseudogenes and and novel novel regulatory regulatory mechanisms discovered discovered and and explored explored in in diverse Wen Wen et et al, al, RNA RNA Biology Biology 9 9: :27 27- -32 just at at the addressed, such the cell cell or or tissue But, definitely, definitely, the not to to be DNA. . Surely, Surely, many mechanisms remain diverse organisms organisms. . 32. . Jan Jan 2012 2012 the beginning beginning. . such as as the tissue specific specific the so so- -called be considered considered any many functional functional remain to to be be addressed, the called any be

The story of Pseudogenes People left their faith in Christ because they perceived that this evidence was persuasive and it was scientific and thus the Bible (God) must be wrong. Instead, as science learned more, the evidence turned out not to support the assertion. They were wrong. These people who left their faith over pseudogenes do not appear to have noticed. They are not returning to the church insofar as I am aware. There is great danger in choosing to believe men, rather than God. Man will always be wrong, although we may never know the whole story.

There Are Issues That Challenge the concept of a fiat There Are Issues That Challenge the concept of a fiat creation creation Radiometric dating Radiometric dating Other dating methods Other dating methods Fossil record Fossil record Orderly fossil record Orderly fossil record Hominid record Hominid record Etc. Etc.

There Are Issues That support the concept of a fiat creation There Are Issues That support the concept of a fiat creation Origin of life Origin of life Fossil record Fossil record Sudden appearances Sudden appearances General absence of intermediate forms General absence of intermediate forms Sedimentology and Catastrophism Sedimentology and Catastrophism Evidence of extraordinary events. Evidence of extraordinary events. General lack of evidence for time. General lack of evidence for time. Molecular biology Molecular biology

What Science Tells Us: What Science Tells Us: Evolution Evolution Creation Creation

What we would like to see: (?) What we would like to see: (?) Evolution Evolution Creation Creation

or this: or this: Evolution Evolution Evolution Evolution Creation Creation Creation Creation

What we See: What we See: Evolution Evolution Creation Creation

Conclusion: Conclusion: A = B A = B Therefore: For those who know the science, the decision about origins is always going to be based upon something other than science.

Summary Giving up belief based on science has historically been an ill-advised path. Presently there are a lot of data that are interpreted to support evolution and long ages for life on earth Presently there are also a lot of data that support design and the interaction of a supernatural being with the history and science of humanity. What you decide to believe will always be a belief choice.