The Most Powerful Argument for "Intelligent Design" - DNA, Complexity and Perfection Beyon
There is a harsh reality for those who reject the concept of a Creator, or "intelligent designer" for achieving the enormity and complexity of life-on-Earth (in addition to the arcane immensity of the physical universe) - rejected as mere childish theology.
Such atheistic dogma argues that our fantastic world came into being simply: by lightning sparking a pool of inorganic chemical "soup", creating single-cell life (never achieved despite decades of laboratory effort); which then evolved solely by Darwin-Evolution-mutation-happenstance.
The harsh reality is an imperative negative, how can any intelligent, rational mind, comprehending the incredible complexity and perfection exhibited in the DNA double-helix, the basis for all life and creature-variety - not bow down (figuratively) in humble acceptance of the supremacy of such incomparable creative intelligence, manifest in such a profound (yet conceptually simple) building-block and blueprint coding for all life forms - acknowledging that such perfection could not possibly have come about by mere accident, nor even by human intelligence? To deny an exceptional guiding intellect can only be a denial of their own reasoning power - over-ruling rationality by pure, close-minded, anti-deity doctrine.
(In reality, however, there is apparently no middle-ground belief!) The commonly known DNA, which stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, is a chemical polymer, located in the nucleus of the cell - an extremely long macro-molecule which forms the main component of chromosomes (a basic element in the genetic determination and development of all life forms).
DNA structurally, is composed of two nucleotide "strands", which coil around each other in a helix, like a pair of spiraling stair cases.
The two chains of alternating phosphate and deoxyribose units, are bound together chemically, the strands held in place by four chemicals called bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T).
The specific ordering of the chemical bases allow for the storage and maintenance of the biological characteristics of all living things.
The laws of genetics describe the DNA sequences which govern our biological traits.
DNA is physically capable of self replicating, as well as chemically synthesizing RNA, a cellular messenger, which distributes genetic and cellular information within cells.
This distribution of information facilitates protein synthesis as well as genetic determination.
Every DNA strand consists of nucleotides, which are monomers made of a phosphate, a sugar (deoxyribose) and a hetero-cyclic base.
The combination of a sugar and a hetero-cyclic base creates a nucleoside; when a phosphate is added to the molecule, a nucleotide is created.
The backbone of each strand consists of alternating phosphates and deoxy-riboses.
Specifically, the phosphate of a nucleotide bonds to both the 5'-carbon of one deoxy-ribose and the 3'-carbon of the next deoxy-ribose - which is how nucleotides create a strand.
(Note: 5' and 3' refer to the placement of the carbons in the deoxy-ribose molecule.
) The hetero-cyclic base, which attaches to the deoxy-ribose, projects inwards, to the axis of the helix.
As the two poly-nucleotide strands wind around each other in a double helix, they are anti-parallel, one chain running 5'-3' and the other 3'-5'.
The connections of the two strands comprise the hydrogen bonds between the nucleotide bases of the two strands.
Connections also exist between the adenines and thymines (2 hydrogen bonds) and between cytosines and guanines (3 hydrogen bonds).
The two strands are complementary, meaning that the strand running in the 5'-3' direction will have base adenine, which will pair with base thymine on the opposite strand running in 3'-5' direction.
Since the strands are also anti-parallel, each can be a matrix for the creation of a new complementary and anti-parallel offspring-strand.
The DNA double helix makes a complete turn in over 10 nucleotide pairs - about 25 hydrogen bonds in one complete turn.
The length of the helix can be 2 centimeters if fully stretched.
The first major step in "DNA Replication" is the breaking of the hydrogen bonds between bases of the two anti-parallel strands, the unwinding of the two strands being the starting point.
The splitting begins in locations which are rich in adenine and thymine - as there are only two bonds between them, three hydrogen bonds being between cytosine and guanine.
Helicase is the enzyme that splits the two strands - the initiation point of the splitting is properly termed "origin of replication", the structure being called "Replication Fork".
The second step of DNA Replication is the binding of RNA Primase at the the initiation point of the 3'-5' parent chain.
RNA Primase can attract RNA nucleotides which bind to the DNA nucleotides of the 3'-5' strand.
RNA nucleotides are the primers or initiaters for the binding of DNA nucleotides.
The third step is the elongation process, different for the 5'-3' and 3'-5' templates.
The 3'-5' template or proceeding daughter-strand is the "leading strand"; because the DNA Polymerase can "read" the template, it continuously adds nucleotides (e.
g.
complementary to the nucleotides of the template - for example, an adenine being opposite to thymine etc.
) The 3'-5' template cannot be "read" by DNA Polymerase (its replication being very complicated) - the new strand is called the "lagging strand".
In this lagging strand, the RNA Primase adds more RNA Primers - DNA polymerase "reads" the template and lengthens the bursts.
The gap between two RNA primers is called "Okazaki Fragments".
The RNA Primers are necessary for DNA Polymerase to bind nucleotides to the 3' end of the strand.
The daughter strand is elongated with the binding of more DNA nucleotides.
The fourth step is with the lagging strand, the DNA Pol I exonuclease "reading" the fragments and removing RNA Primers.
The gaps are then closed with the actions of DNA Polymerase (which adds complementary nucleotides to the gaps) and DNA Ligase (which adds phosphate in the remaining gaps of the phosphate).
The fifth and last step of DNA Replication is "Termination".
This process happens when the DNA Polymerase reaches an end of the strand.
In the final section of the lagging strand, when the RNA primer is removed, it is not possible for the DNA Polymerase to seal the gap (because there is no primer).
Thus, at the end of the parental strand, the last primer bind is not replicated.
These ends of linear (chromosomal) DNA consist of non-coding DNA, which contains repeat sequences, called telomeres.
As a result, a part of the telomere is removed in every cycle of DNA replication.
Indicative of the anticipatory-thoroughness of the DNA concept (clearly non-accidental, thus non-Darwinian), replication is not completed until a "repair" correction is made of any errors occurring during the replication process is achieved (e.
g.
enzymes such as nucleases can remove the wrong nucleotides, the DNA Polmerase filling the gaps).
Each new double helix consists of one old and one new chain, termed semi-conservative replication.
Each diploid cell in the human body has 46 strands of DNA, representing each of the 46 chromosomes in the cell.
Since there are about 100 trillion cells in the body (ref.
American Association for Advancement of Science), the majority being diploid - there are therefore, about 4,600 trillion DNA strands in the body (compared to only six billion humans on Earth).
Thus the DNA inheritance can permit tracing of movement of peoples from mankind's origins in Africa - to the mid-East - to Europe - across the Bering Straits -to North America - then south, populating the Americas.
Companies have arisen offering to identify the geographic genetic ancestry of anyone, through comparisons of genetic profiles to a world-wide population database.
now inclusive of a half-million individuals, referencing well over 1200 populations around the world, including a thousand indigenous populations.
During recent decades much work has been done on the DNA and the human genome, taking advantage of the uniqueness of DNA for each individual living today (or who ever lived), to solve "cold" cases of murder or rape.
Not infrequently, shocking (and incestuous) relationships are uncovered: first degree or "familial" relationships, such as father-daughter or mother-son and siblings, indicated when 25% of DNA elements match; for uncle-niece or aunt-nephew relationships, the percentage drops to 12.
5%; for first cousins, it is less than 1%.
Such atheistic dogma argues that our fantastic world came into being simply: by lightning sparking a pool of inorganic chemical "soup", creating single-cell life (never achieved despite decades of laboratory effort); which then evolved solely by Darwin-Evolution-mutation-happenstance.
The harsh reality is an imperative negative, how can any intelligent, rational mind, comprehending the incredible complexity and perfection exhibited in the DNA double-helix, the basis for all life and creature-variety - not bow down (figuratively) in humble acceptance of the supremacy of such incomparable creative intelligence, manifest in such a profound (yet conceptually simple) building-block and blueprint coding for all life forms - acknowledging that such perfection could not possibly have come about by mere accident, nor even by human intelligence? To deny an exceptional guiding intellect can only be a denial of their own reasoning power - over-ruling rationality by pure, close-minded, anti-deity doctrine.
(In reality, however, there is apparently no middle-ground belief!) The commonly known DNA, which stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, is a chemical polymer, located in the nucleus of the cell - an extremely long macro-molecule which forms the main component of chromosomes (a basic element in the genetic determination and development of all life forms).
DNA structurally, is composed of two nucleotide "strands", which coil around each other in a helix, like a pair of spiraling stair cases.
The two chains of alternating phosphate and deoxyribose units, are bound together chemically, the strands held in place by four chemicals called bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T).
The specific ordering of the chemical bases allow for the storage and maintenance of the biological characteristics of all living things.
The laws of genetics describe the DNA sequences which govern our biological traits.
DNA is physically capable of self replicating, as well as chemically synthesizing RNA, a cellular messenger, which distributes genetic and cellular information within cells.
This distribution of information facilitates protein synthesis as well as genetic determination.
Every DNA strand consists of nucleotides, which are monomers made of a phosphate, a sugar (deoxyribose) and a hetero-cyclic base.
The combination of a sugar and a hetero-cyclic base creates a nucleoside; when a phosphate is added to the molecule, a nucleotide is created.
The backbone of each strand consists of alternating phosphates and deoxy-riboses.
Specifically, the phosphate of a nucleotide bonds to both the 5'-carbon of one deoxy-ribose and the 3'-carbon of the next deoxy-ribose - which is how nucleotides create a strand.
(Note: 5' and 3' refer to the placement of the carbons in the deoxy-ribose molecule.
) The hetero-cyclic base, which attaches to the deoxy-ribose, projects inwards, to the axis of the helix.
As the two poly-nucleotide strands wind around each other in a double helix, they are anti-parallel, one chain running 5'-3' and the other 3'-5'.
The connections of the two strands comprise the hydrogen bonds between the nucleotide bases of the two strands.
Connections also exist between the adenines and thymines (2 hydrogen bonds) and between cytosines and guanines (3 hydrogen bonds).
The two strands are complementary, meaning that the strand running in the 5'-3' direction will have base adenine, which will pair with base thymine on the opposite strand running in 3'-5' direction.
Since the strands are also anti-parallel, each can be a matrix for the creation of a new complementary and anti-parallel offspring-strand.
The DNA double helix makes a complete turn in over 10 nucleotide pairs - about 25 hydrogen bonds in one complete turn.
The length of the helix can be 2 centimeters if fully stretched.
The first major step in "DNA Replication" is the breaking of the hydrogen bonds between bases of the two anti-parallel strands, the unwinding of the two strands being the starting point.
The splitting begins in locations which are rich in adenine and thymine - as there are only two bonds between them, three hydrogen bonds being between cytosine and guanine.
Helicase is the enzyme that splits the two strands - the initiation point of the splitting is properly termed "origin of replication", the structure being called "Replication Fork".
The second step of DNA Replication is the binding of RNA Primase at the the initiation point of the 3'-5' parent chain.
RNA Primase can attract RNA nucleotides which bind to the DNA nucleotides of the 3'-5' strand.
RNA nucleotides are the primers or initiaters for the binding of DNA nucleotides.
The third step is the elongation process, different for the 5'-3' and 3'-5' templates.
The 3'-5' template or proceeding daughter-strand is the "leading strand"; because the DNA Polymerase can "read" the template, it continuously adds nucleotides (e.
g.
complementary to the nucleotides of the template - for example, an adenine being opposite to thymine etc.
) The 3'-5' template cannot be "read" by DNA Polymerase (its replication being very complicated) - the new strand is called the "lagging strand".
In this lagging strand, the RNA Primase adds more RNA Primers - DNA polymerase "reads" the template and lengthens the bursts.
The gap between two RNA primers is called "Okazaki Fragments".
The RNA Primers are necessary for DNA Polymerase to bind nucleotides to the 3' end of the strand.
The daughter strand is elongated with the binding of more DNA nucleotides.
The fourth step is with the lagging strand, the DNA Pol I exonuclease "reading" the fragments and removing RNA Primers.
The gaps are then closed with the actions of DNA Polymerase (which adds complementary nucleotides to the gaps) and DNA Ligase (which adds phosphate in the remaining gaps of the phosphate).
The fifth and last step of DNA Replication is "Termination".
This process happens when the DNA Polymerase reaches an end of the strand.
In the final section of the lagging strand, when the RNA primer is removed, it is not possible for the DNA Polymerase to seal the gap (because there is no primer).
Thus, at the end of the parental strand, the last primer bind is not replicated.
These ends of linear (chromosomal) DNA consist of non-coding DNA, which contains repeat sequences, called telomeres.
As a result, a part of the telomere is removed in every cycle of DNA replication.
Indicative of the anticipatory-thoroughness of the DNA concept (clearly non-accidental, thus non-Darwinian), replication is not completed until a "repair" correction is made of any errors occurring during the replication process is achieved (e.
g.
enzymes such as nucleases can remove the wrong nucleotides, the DNA Polmerase filling the gaps).
Each new double helix consists of one old and one new chain, termed semi-conservative replication.
Each diploid cell in the human body has 46 strands of DNA, representing each of the 46 chromosomes in the cell.
Since there are about 100 trillion cells in the body (ref.
American Association for Advancement of Science), the majority being diploid - there are therefore, about 4,600 trillion DNA strands in the body (compared to only six billion humans on Earth).
Thus the DNA inheritance can permit tracing of movement of peoples from mankind's origins in Africa - to the mid-East - to Europe - across the Bering Straits -to North America - then south, populating the Americas.
Companies have arisen offering to identify the geographic genetic ancestry of anyone, through comparisons of genetic profiles to a world-wide population database.
now inclusive of a half-million individuals, referencing well over 1200 populations around the world, including a thousand indigenous populations.
During recent decades much work has been done on the DNA and the human genome, taking advantage of the uniqueness of DNA for each individual living today (or who ever lived), to solve "cold" cases of murder or rape.
Not infrequently, shocking (and incestuous) relationships are uncovered: first degree or "familial" relationships, such as father-daughter or mother-son and siblings, indicated when 25% of DNA elements match; for uncle-niece or aunt-nephew relationships, the percentage drops to 12.
5%; for first cousins, it is less than 1%.