Artificial “Alien” DNA. It sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? Yet, scientists have recently created artificial DNA. Normally, the genetic code consists of four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). In DNA, guanine always pairs with cytosine and adenine with thymine. (Remember learning this in high school?) Well, now they have created X and Y. They have essentially expanded the DNA alphabet.
This has enormous implications for future drug therapy. At the same time, caution must be taken that we don’t start playing God.
“The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9, HCSB)
God told Adam and Eve to eat from every tree, including the tree of life. They were forbidden from eating from the tree of good and evil.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”” (Genesis 2:16–17, HCSB)
Scientists are making strides in extending and improving life. This discovery is continuing the movement in that direction. Science helps explain the mechanics of life. We must be careful to think about how we improve life in a way that does not promote our “scientific” intelligence above God. He gives life, extends life, and helps us overcome difficulties in life. While we can continue to discover new therapies, we must remember that we can never take complete control of our life away from the Giver of life – God.
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