Image credit: Copyright © 2013 EMBL/Mirna Marinić. Adapted for use in accordance with federal copyright (fair use doctrine) law. Usage by ICR does not imply endorsement of copyright holders.
Posted on 04/22/2013 8:43:22 AM PDT by fishtank
Embryology Gene Control Confounds Evolution by Jeffrey Tomkins, Ph.D. *
As they say in the real estate business, location is everything. It looks like the same working principle applies to genes and their control sequences in the genome during embryo development. And not just the gene’s simple location in a linear sense, but its three-dimensional spatial location.
During the growth of an embryo, genes that direct the developmental processes are precisely switched on and off. This highly complex process contextually confers specific properties to different cells that eventually become the various organs and tissues of the developing embryo. The precise timing and control of these genetic switches is critical to building a properly proportioned healthy animal.
One of the best studied individual genes in this process encodes a protein called “Fgf8” (Fibroblast growth factor 8). There are actually a number of different types of fibroblast growth-factor genes that are not only important for basic cell survival, but also for embryonic development, cell growth, cell differentiation, and tissue repair.
The Fgf8 gene is one of the key embryo development factors in the processes controlling the growth of limbs and several regions of the brain. Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) have shown how Fgf8 in mice is itself controlled by a large number of interdependent regulatory elements specifically located in various clusters.1 These regulatory elements are involved in what are called long-range DNA interactions in a three-dimensional context. In the cell's nucleus, different parts of the genome are dynamically brought together for specific physical interactions via elaborate DNA loops. This type of highly complex three-dimensional control is emerging as a standard, yet incredibly elaborate paradigm for how genes, and their networks of control, operate.2, 3
As noted in a recent press release by the EMBL research institute, "These findings highlight a level of complexity of gene regulation that is often overlooked. Regulatory elements are not engaged in a one-to-one relationship with the specific gene that has the appropriate DNA sequence. The local genomic organization, and 3D folding of DNA, might actually be more important factors that both modulate the action of regulation elements, and put them in contact with their target gene."4
A brief summary of the findings are listed below:
The Fgf8 gene encodes one of many key proteins in embryo development and is itself controlled in a complicated fashion by multiple and interdependent arrays of regulatory elements. The correct cellular pattern and timing of Fgf8 gene expression during development relies on a combination of complex networked information mediated by its various regulatory elements. The physical interaction between regulatory elements that control the Fgf8 gene is based on their specific positions and distribution along a chromosome's landscape that confer coded DNA information in three dimensions. Gene networks and the DNA features that control their proper contextual function operate via different genomic regions in a coordinated and complex fashion to provide highly specific three dimensional outcomes. This emerging paradigm is clear evidence of highly elaborate bio-engineering by an omnipotent Creator.
References
Marinić, M. et al. 2013. An integrated holo-enhancer unit defines tissue and gene specificity of the Fgf8 regulatory landscape. Developmental Cell. 24 (5): 530-542.
Dean, A. 2011. In the loop: long range chromatin interactions and gene regulation. Briefings in Functional Genomics. 10 (1): 3-10.
Van Bortle, K. and V.G. Corces. 2012. Nuclear organization and genome function. Annual Review Cell Developmental Biology. 28 (28): 163-187.
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 2013. DNA’s twisted communication. EMBL Press Release posted on wwwemblde on February 28, 2013, accessed March 29, 2013.
Image credit: Copyright © 2013 EMBL/Mirna Marinić. Adapted for use in accordance with federal copyright (fair use doctrine) law. Usage by ICR does not imply endorsement of copyright holders.
*Dr. Tomkins is Research Associate at the Institute for Creation Research and received his Ph.D. in Genetics from Clemson University.
Article posted April 15, 2013.
Image credit: Copyright © 2013 EMBL/Mirna Marinić. Adapted for use in accordance with federal copyright (fair use doctrine) law. Usage by ICR does not imply endorsement of copyright holders.
I love it...thanks for posting it.
How many times do we scientists who happen to be Christian have to be embarrassed by this stuff?
I give God an A+ (as if he is concerned about my rating) for the magnificent mathematical universe we’re in.
I give the Institute’s analysis - an F with the recommendation, “Please go get a degree in some sort of ‘Studies’ and leave real science alone.”
I strongly suspect that you are neither a ‘scientist’ nor a true Christian.
Why does this embarrass you? Is it the conclusion that this magnificent and wonderful complexity is evidence of a Creator? If so, why does that embarrass you?
“...some sort of ‘Studies’ and leave real science alone.”...”
that is the problem with evolutionists!!!!!
educated morons
That's a pretty big leap and I'm a Christian.
This is fascinating but it relates to a topic that appears to my unlettered person as absolutely destructive to traditional faith. What I am referring to is that scientifically we are very near to being able to engage in sophisticated genetic manipulation of human beings. Creation and breeding of beings outside the body is only a few steps away from being a reality. Even closer is the ability to manipulate the genetic content of the fetus in the womb. Two other areas that are also relatively near to emerging are equally or more revolutionary. One is the development of artificial life forms with true intelligence, i.e. machines that can think and reason and extrapolate the processes to other areas. In other words crated life with what religious people might call a soul. Finally there is the impact on microminturization and the development of medical servomechanisms that can be incorporated into the human body both to extend life and to enhance physical strength and performance. Theoretically immortality would seem to be a possibility. These things are coming and their impact will make the impact of the abortion debate on the the faith community appear to be a mild dress rehearsal.
Very short but basic embryology article. Last sentence is an inference out of the blue. Still - the whole system is elegantly complex and yet conserved - what an amazing thing this life we’ve been given.
Her’s neither, and I suspect that this ‘da coyote’ is the same ‘coyote man’ that we had here several years ago who was banned and went over to the anti-freerepbulic site and bragged about how much better that site was, but we’re seeing him back here now- He NEVER gave any counter evidence back then, and apparently, if this is thew same person, will NEVER give any actual evince to support his accusation now-
Notice all he can say is “I’m a ‘christian’ and I’m a scientist’ and apparent that’s supposed to impress us that we’re supposed to just take his word that ICR doesn’
t know what they’re talking about- (of course he doesn’t give ANY reason why- just making the claim is enough apparently- Some scientist!
It’s already occurring. Designer dna (oligonucleotides) are being knitted together and expressed in vitro as well as in vivo. It’s relatively simple to extract dna, cut with a restriction enzyme at a palindromic sequence and insert your new addition. Building a complete human genome from scratch is cost prohibitive - but virii and simple designer bacterial dna are within the realm of possibility.
Irrespective of whether one believes that biological complexity is the product of millennia of evolution, or is the product of intelligent design, the essence of God is far, far beyond either viewpoint. It really comes down to whether or not one believes that everything exists for no reason and that the totality of existence ‘just happened’, or if one believes that there is a reason for all that there is. To me, it's just not very logical to believe that existence ‘just happened’. That viewpoint is in no way supported or even testable scientifically, and is to me the least logical viewpoint.
OK, I,m not too smart. I don’t have an advanced degree in science. . but I wonder why it takes 3 generations of monarch butterflies to return to their original tree in Mexico? Does the mother monarch teach her offspring to teach her offspring to return to the same tree? Hmm sounds like a Creator to me!
I agree.
Your predictions might very well come true.
I think a VERY long life span will be available quite soon to people (hundreds of years, possibly).
I’m not so sure about a synthetic soul, but how can one really predict something like that?
Thanks for the note.
It really comes down to whether or not one believes that everything exists for no reason and that the totality of existence ‘just happened’, or if one believes that there is a reason for all that there is.
How about: I don't know?
I understand what you are saying, but I don’t see this as trying to “prove” God’s existance beyond that stated in Psalm 19:1-3 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”
I also believe that apologetics has an important role in bolstering faith for some, but not all, Christians.
My question was not a challenge, but I request for clarification - since I didn’t see anything contentious in what was presented, except to a non-Creationist. The poster presented him/herself as Christian, so that was the cause of my question. Not fighting, just asking.
Yep!
It’s most notable that he couldn’t address any specific points. Typical Coyote Man hype.
His demise here was kind of special; Jim zotted him from Lafayette the same day that Bill Ayres had his BS session at St. Mary’s College, and I had the opportunity to thank and congratulate Jim in person that evening.
2004 signup date, but one page of history!
Smells like a hot retread about to blow out going down the road.
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