Epigenetics – Complexity of Biblical Proportions – Part 1

The discovery of DNA has greatly enhanced our understanding of life and its complexities. However, understanding DNA is just the beginning. DNA orchestration and expression are of mind-blowing, Biblical, proportions of complexity. This orchestration is a field of study called epigenetics; a term coined in the 1940’s and currently one of the hottest topics of research. Epigenetics may very well be the most important scientific discovery of our generation.

Consider a nest of eggs. The DNA is fixed in the nucleus of each egg. After a month or so, the eggs will incubate and be transformed into chicks. These chicks all look alike but no longer resemble the egg from which they came. Their DNA has not changed. Every cell in their body, in collaboration with every other cell, has expressed itself as this baby chick. After a few weeks they increase in size and grow bigger wings, their fuzz turns into feathers, and muscles become toned for flight. At each stage, the babies, in this case, robins, all look alike; their DNA is expressed in like manner for each of the chicks; every cell is expressing itself differently, but in concert with every other cell, doing its part to produce a fledgling. Amazingly, the robin’s DNA does not change, but the robins do; they change a lot. They all grow at the same rate and fledge at the same time. Finally, we have mature birds, all approximately the same size and approximately the same physical appearance. The DNA is fixed from egg till death, but the expression of the robin’s DNA is changed drastically from one stage to another. Everything is performing with perfect orchestration and expression.

So, the question is, what mechanism produces this orchestration? It is explained by epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of how DNA is packed into the cell and with which chemicals it is packed. The result of this packing regulates which genes are expressed and to what extent. Each time a cell divides, it is subject to new packing arrangements. Each cell is different and each cell packs in concert with every other cell; each doing its part. This is a miracle. Every stage of growth and development is a miracle. An extreme example of epigenetics is the butterfly. During metamorphosis, the larva changes to a butterfly, totally different from the larva in appearance and metabolism. And, it happens very quickly. The cell divisions act in unison with all cells to regulate gene expression and produce what looks like a totally different creature even though the DNA remains fixed.

Epigenetics is a system of turning genes off and on. We humans have just over 20,000 genes in our body and each of these genes can be expressed or not depending on how tightly it is wound and with which chemicals it is packed. Therefore, with the butterfly, one combination of genes is expressed to build the larva and another combination of genes is expressed for constructing the mature butterfly. No matter how the DNA is packed, it cannot construct a moth, a bird, or a chimpanzee; it can only express the various stages of that species of butterfly.

Now let’s look at human epigenetics and make it a bit more personal. What regulates and orchestrates our DNA packing? The answer is, “our personal DNA coupled with our environment determines how our DNA is packed.” This environment includes diet, air quality, stress, friends, attitude, purpose, and spiritual beliefs. The environment triggers receptors, switches, hormones, and electrical signals: these triggers affect how our DNA is expressed. In summary, not only does your DNA regulate gene expression, but so does our physical and spiritual environment. We have a blog (part 2 of this blog) that shows both the physical and spiritual effects of epigenetics using laboratory tests of mice and rats.

Now that we have given the basics, it is time to shock you with the complexity of epigenetics. Consider you. You looked different when you were a fetus and you looked different as a newborn. Then came the toddler years and adolescent years. Every decade you look different. Each cell in your body must do its part in making you, you for each period of your life. Latest estimates are that a human body has 37.2 trillion cells. Each cell contains about 6 feet of DNA. Therefore, you have 6 X 37.2 = 223.2 trillion feet of DNA that must be orchestrated to make you, you. If we take this 223.2 trillion feet of DNA and divide by 5280 (feet in a mile) and take that and divide by the distance to the sun (93 million miles), we get 459.07. This is shocking! This means that if you stretch out your DNA, it is long enough to make approximately 230 round trips to the sun. This is complexity of Biblical proportions. Each of these 6-foot strands must do its part in the orchestration with all the other 37.2 trillion strands to produce you at any point in your life. Only divine intellect and ingenuity can explain complexity of this proportion.

Dear friends and children, if you believe the Bible you are doing well. The complexity of life is of Biblical proportions and cannot be explained by chaos. When we face the creator, we will be able to say, “we believed your Word, that you created all things.”

 

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32 thoughts on “Epigenetics – Complexity of Biblical Proportions – Part 1

  1. Thanks so much for this eye opener. Please in God name keep educating us. So much so that we can with stand those opponents of the truth.

  2. Thank you, I am a retired RN and find the information you share fascinating and
    thought provoking. God Bless you and thank you for sharing.

    1. Part 2 has been written but not yet published. It is in review. It should be published within a month.

      Admin

  3. Oh my goodness thank you very much for an indepth and insightfull explanation.
    I feel empowered and thankful.
    God bless
    how do i subscribe?

    1. Yes, it could. I do not know of any research that would support this specific notion, but knowing what I do about epigenetics it surely could. One characteristic of epigenetics is that of gene expression in response to one’s environment. I know that some who are homosexual are so because of how one of there parents treat them. For instance, if a father treats his son badly, there seems to be a correlation with homosexuality. Again, our epigenetics responds to our environment. Mistreatment by a father, or mother, would definitely be a strong emotional environmental stimulus. Epigenetics has been shown to affect memory in mice even three and four generations.

  4. Im sorry, but you wrote this article to fit your beliefs. You started the article fairly well, explaining the science behind epigenetics. And then ended it by stating that it’s so complicated that it can only be explained as a manifestation of God’s intervention. One thing has nothing to do with the other. The fact that it is complex does not suggest the existance of God or of a higher being creating it.

  5. Yes king David had understood back then what science is beginning to grasp — ” I will praise the; for I am fearfully and made ; marvelous are thy works ; and that my soul knoweth right well” — Ps. 139 : 14 . Inspiration is our best source of learning . One day we will enlist in a school where The Creator Himself will be our Teacher and we with brains made perfect around will students at His feet for eternity . Looking forward to that time with inexpressible longing .

  6. If a grandmother had a traumatic exlerience E( epigenetic) and later in life had dementia and her grand daughter had bipolar condition was the grandaughters bipolar condition in anyway connected to the grandmothers dementia? Please reply

    1. Life is very complicated and very little is known about epigenetics, but since you asked me to reply, I will.

      I did have a family member diagnosed as bipolar. Generally, her depression phase was initiated by bad news or some traumatic happening. She was treated with electric shock treatments and medicated with lithium. They both worked, but only temporarily. The electrical shock erased memory, and the lithium changed the chemical balance in her body, both of these could be affected by epigenetics.

      Epigenetics controls the expression of DNA. There are many experiments with rats and mice that show memories can be passed on for several generations with natural procreation. Therefore, if a person is prone to bipolar, bad memories can be passed from generation to generation, and these bad memories could trigger bipolar.

      It appears that the consensus is that bipolar is hereditary; however, it has been challenging to isolate a single gene. It appears that it is very complicated, and many genes are involved. Much research is underway concerning which genes are responsible.

      I am not an expert on bipolar but have given you what I know. In life, there are many obstacles and challenges, but if we meet them and do our best to use them for good, we will do well. My way of dealing with problems is to live in Christ, pray, use life as an opportunity to believe and exercise my faith.

      May God richly bless you and your loved ones,
      Admin

  7. When one says… it’s very complicated… it’s simply an expression of ones mental incapabilty to understand the state that is complicated. When it is undertood it ceases to be complicated. The tragedy with knowledge lies in the attempt by man to understand man … the more he tries the more he discovers how much he needs to know… God is at the end of it all.

  8. Thank you for your informations I have use many documentaries and articles about epigenetic but your article was rich in facts contained with few words best wishes from sri lanka

  9. Thanks for these words of comfort. I just found the time I need it the most. As we still battle with Covid 19. Yehovahs blessing on your timely efforts.

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