DNA is God’s Signature

 

During the OJ Simpson trial in 1994 many of us learned about a three-letter sequence that would eventually change forensic science-DNA. Although the State of California did a poor job in explaining this relatively new science to the public, we have since come to understand it in a much better way. A person’s DNA is their own unique code, the blueprint that maps out a person’s physical appearance. Any DNA left at a crime scene today will almost certainly lead to that person’s conviction. Even still, many of us might not know some of the finer details of what DNA actually is. 

 

Deoxyribonucleic acid is basically a molecule that is composed of two polynucleotide chains that wrap around each other to form a double helix. Does that help? Under a microscope we can see that, in layman’s terms, DNA looks like a spring, or two strings coiled up with bridges in between them. Dr. Yeshayahu Rubinstein studied DNA and found a pattern in the bridges that run between the chains. He noted that there are ten acids and then a bridge; then five acids and a bridge; then six acids and a bridge; then five acids and a bridge. This pattern repeats indefinitely in all DNA. 

 

Dr. Rubinstein, who is Jewish, knew that every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value, so he transposed the numbers ten, five, six, and five into Hebrew. This produced yod, he, waw, he, or YHWH. That is the Hebrew name for the God of heaven, what we commonly pronounce as Yahweh. It was by this name that God first introduced Himself to Moses at the burning bush as His way of distinguishing Himself from the generic word god: Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, ‘YHWH…(Exodus 3:13-14)’

 

This is remarkable. The Creator of the universe has slipped His holy name into every strand of DNA, the blueprints for life. All good artists place their signature into their work, and now we have found God’s signature in His piece de resistance. 

 

What is also remarkable about DNA is that it is present at the second of conception. A fertilized egg, called a zygote, is genetically complete, meaning the baby’s DNA is already locked in place. Some use terms to de-humanize the unborn, calling them a fetus (which just means “little one” in Latin) or a product of conception, as if they are a dime a dozen. But God has given each not-yet-born baby her own unique DNA the second He formed her in the womb.

 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well (Psalm 139:14).”

 

When Does Life Begin?

This past week marked the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that essentially has led to abortion on demand in America. The Southern Baptist Convention has designated the week as a time to pray for the unborn and stand up for innocent life. In light of this I wanted to write about something that is a fairly recent discovery in the science of the unborn.

Just two years ago scientists were able to observe a flash of light when a human egg was fertilized in a laboratory. When the egg is fertilized there is a surge of calcium, causing zinc to shoot out of the zygote. The flash of light can be seen using fluorescence microscopy.

While this information may not mean much to some, it is vitally important. Proponents of abortion like to say that there is no way of knowing when life begins, and if we cannot know for sure, then abortion is just the removal of an unwanted mass. But this flash of light—this zinc shooting out from a fertilized egg—is a fireworks show celebrating the start of a new life.

We also know that every zygote is genetically complete. At that very second of conception the fertilized egg has all it needs; the unborn child’s gender, hair and eye color, and height are already locked into its unique DNA. This is not a potential person, it is a person in its smallest form.

The Bible also gives us an indication that life inside the womb is special. David said God knit him together in his mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). God told Jeremiah that He knew the prophet before He formed him in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). All life is created by God, and is therefore special. We must always stand up to protect innocent life, for they were created in the image of God, and are fearfully and wonderfully made.