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Do Christians really have different DNA than other people?
Someone just answered a question in part:
"I can't remember her name but a scientist who studies DNA said a person's DNA changes when they become Christian..."
I'm a bit surprised, I would have thought: no, Christians do not have different DNA than other people. But, what do I know? I'm not a DNA scientist.
Does anyone have any citations for this scientist or her work? Or descriptions of exactly how Christian DNA "changes."
In the future, are there going to be DNA testing kits available to determine whether you are a "true" Christian or not?
Link: /question/index?qid=20140...
Of course, given R&S that answerer could be a troll. But sometimes it's hard to tell.
11 Answers
- DiogenesLv 77 years agoFavorite Answer
1.) Mitochondrial DNA comes from our mothers and does not change (except for the odd mutation). It passes essentially unchanged for hundreds of generations.
2.) Half of our nuclear DNA comes from each of our parents and (except for the odd mutation) does not change during our lifetime. Whether we are male or female, our gametes (either sperm or ova) each contain a random mix of half our DNA, which is why every child of the same set of parents is unique (twins excepted).
3.) There is an emerging field, called epigenetics, which studies how environmental influences can operate genetic "switches" which can turn particular parts of our nuclear DNA "off" or "on." An example of epigenetics is the recent discovery that fasting for several days can cause our immune system (which depends on manipulating DNA/RNA) to "reboot." Thus, there is an untested and unlikely possibility that religious experience might have an epigenetic effect and could possibly alter the way our cells express the DNA they carry. To my knowledge no one actually knows whether or not religious experience can result in an epigenetic effect -- which is the only thing preventing me from calling the woman in question an outright liar. (My educated hunch is that religion does not have an epigenetic effect.)
- Christian SinnerLv 77 years ago
I don't think so. DNA doesn't determine everything about a person, and the connection to God is spiritual, so I don't think they can discover a spiritual DNA. It's not physical. But, I do expect science to only report what they find, so it's not their fault they don't know, unless they know that much about spiritual things.
I think Dark Matter and Dark Energy are evidences of that spiritual world. I could be wrong, but at least it's an example of our limited understanding of what is possible in the universe..
- KKSLv 57 years ago
It might be possible that DNA changes, because as soon as we really surrender to God He is taking care of us. This means for example that our karma, our reactions from our previous actions, will be diminished or even almost extinguished.
Since our DNA is something like a program for the future it might change then. But not just because someone calls Himself a Christian or a follower of any other religion, but only if one lives according the principles of this religion and changes one’s life.
In Palmistry they say the left hand shows your fate at the time of birth while the lines of your right hands are changing – according your lifestyle and your personal development. And your fate is changing as well.
There is always a choice. DNA can’t be used as some cheap excuse.
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- Forrest ToneyLv 77 years ago
Once a person realizes that he is really God's kid they are as if they have God's DNA instead of their fathers .
- Anonymous7 years ago
Nonsense. Easily disproved nonsense.
- B Knott WilderedLv 77 years ago
A religion which does not conform with the postulates of science is merely superstition.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 82)
I have spoken to you of some of the principles of Bahá'u'lláh: The Search after Truth and The Unity of Mankind. I will now explain the Fourth Principle, which is The Acceptance of the Relation between Religion and Science.
There is no contradiction between true religion and science. When a religion is opposed to science it becomes mere superstition: that which is contrary to knowledge is ignorance.
How can a man believe to be a fact that which science has proved to be impossible? If he believes in spite of his reason, it is rather ignorant superstition than faith. The true principles of all religions are in conformity with the teachings of science.
The Unity of God is logical, and this idea is not antagonistic to the conclusions arrived at by scientific study.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 141)
- Anonymous7 years ago
They betta improve their testing for my Maybe-Daddies first!