Genome isn't improving
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 11:32 PM PDT
Printable version
E-mail this articleGenome isn't improving
There recently have been several science articles in The Daily News about the recent advances in our ability to "scan" human DNA and thus use it to predict various diseases. It is interesting and contrary to popular evolutionary teaching that all such findings identify disease and not "improvements." Evolution claims that algae somehow became astronauts and algebra teachers. This obviously requires a great increase in quantity and type of DNA.
The only "engines" of evolution are 1) Natural Selection (survival of the fittest) and 2) Mutation of DNA. There are no other mechanisms by which evolution supposedly works. So, if mutations are simply causing disease — cancer, arthritis, diabetes, more than 40 commonly known diseases at this time - where are all the "improvements" predicted by evolutionary theory?
The 6 billion people (Natural Selection experiments, if you will) living today proves that humans will always reproduce another human no matter what "selection" process takes place. Hair color and height, for instance, can change, but never anything different than another human.
This leaves us, as geneticists have known for some time, with a slowly but surely degenerating genome, not an improving one as evolution requires.
Steve Kirkpatrick
Longview
A 'win-win' event
On April 9, I was privileged to be present at a very special event held at Wallace Elementary School in Kelso. Thanks to the creative thinking of Kelso Police Officer Dave Voelker, the entire student body was treated to an event they will never forget. Not only did the "Crop a Cop" program provide opportunity for the students to interact with officers in a healthy, fun, supportive manner, it also resulted in nearly 2,000 items of food being donated to Community House on Broadway.
As the winning class representatives of the food drive shaved the heads of Voelker and Sgt. Doug Lane, the air became electrified with excitement. When Principal Don Iverson got his head shaved, I thought the roof would come off. The laughter and energy displayed by kids and adults alike was a joy to behold.
As police chaplain, I regularly see our law enforcement personnel subjected to all kinds of negative activity in the course of their day-to-day jobs with little or no thanks coming their way. To be able to see them be "real" with these kids and break down barriers by humbling themselves in this way was so encouraging. It was difficult for me to determine who got more out of this event - the kids, Community House or the officers. Maybe it was one of those rare "win-win" events where everyone involved was blessed-including those of us just watching.
Chaplain Steve White
Castle Rock
Religion and politics
After popular demand, I have decided to voice an opinion on the two subjects that cause more arguments than most all others, religion and politics. First religion, or creation or evolution.
Since the Bible only goes back about 6,000 years and was written several hundred years after Jesus, it just makes sense that something was happening before that time. It would be like asking someone to write about what happened when Columbus landed now without any prior knowledge except what he heard or was told. It is going to be hearsay, inaccurate, not based in fact and pure conjecture, but readable.
Besides, if Noah really did do his thing and all was flooded, then we must all be his descendants. And could all those early humans be wrong about a sun god, moon god, corn god, water god, etc., since they were worshipped for many more thousands of years than the god we might have now?
Now politics. Some won't vote for Barack Obama only because he is half black. Remember he is half white, and most people have some color other than white in their family history. Be proud of it. It got you here. Some won't vote for Hillary Clinton just because she is a woman. Most people have a woman in their family history. Be proud of it. Please don't vote at all if the prior two reasons are going to impact your decision.
Bill White
Kalama
Gregoire, a 'selective listener'
In support of Shannon Barnett's remarks about our lady governor, "The Lawyer," (April 15), let me add, our lady governor, "The Selective Listener." Through two years of unsuccessful attempts to communicate with her by phone, by letter, by e-mail and through the news media, we have determined that she must be deaf.
Now that so many of her legislative cohorts in both Washington and Oregon are speaking out for states rights in regard to the LNG issue, it would be beneficial to her campaign if she would acknowledge what two persons from her party who are running for the presidency have acknowledged. We don't need LNG in Oregon or its residual impact on the Columbia River. Perhaps she needs a lesson in geography to point out that the Columbia River is vital to Washington commerce, too.
I am hopeful as a conservative that her opponent has more sense than she seems to display on this issue. Both of these candidates need to pay attention to the swing votes that are expected due to the mess this last administration has made in the energy field.
Vonda Kay Brock
Longview
Bad news, good news
The bad news lately is that America's economy and the dollar are in free fall. You can think of it as being similar to bungee jumping with no bungee cord.
Americans now have no excuse to not see that we need to reform our system of creating money.
That is the good news.
And here is a 19-word lesson on what the problem is, courtesy of William F. "Bill" Hixson: "For the government to permit banks to issue money, borrow that money, and pay interest on it is idiotic."
Gilbert Vik
Cathlamet
Obama lacks compassion
I have been curious about Sen. Barack Obama and have been looking for information on what he has accomplished and what he stands for. One thing I found out really sickened me. Perhaps you have heard of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. The bill protects babies who are born alive after a failed abortion — thus preventing obvious infanticide.
While Obama was in the Illinois state Senate six years ago, he was the only senator to speak against such a bill. A year later, when the U.S. Senate passed Born Alive by a 98-0 vote, Obama killed an identical bill in the state committee of which he was chairman.
His lack of compassion for the most helpless of living persons makes it totally impossible for me to even consider voting for him.
Greta Nelson
Longview
Past Month's Most Commented Stories