Even though it was completed a quarter century ago, geneticists still struggle to estimate the number of genes in the human genome. They went from ‘hundreds of thousands’ to “22 thousand”, then more recently to “about 19,500”. The number, however, has just exploded. Tens of thousands of new genes with important functions were discovered hiding in the ‘junk DNA’. Dr Rob explains what these new findings mean to the creation-evolution debate.
Links and notes:
Carter 2025 The dark proteome https://creation.com/dark-proteome
Carter 2024 The incredible shrinking human genome, https://biblicalgenetics.com/shrinking-genome/
Amaral et al. 2024 The status of the human gene catalogue, Nature 622(7981):41–47; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37794265/
Prensner et al. 2024 What can Ribo-seq and proteomics tell us about the non-canonical proteome? https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.16.541049v1
Pennisi 2024 ‘Dark proteome’ survey reveals thousands of new human genes, Science 386(6725):951–952; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39607933/
Podcast: https://biblicalgenetics.com/contra-creation-myths
Carter et al. 2004 Cloning of anthozoan fluorescent protein genes, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C 138:259–270; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15533784
Matz et al. 1999 Fluorescent proteins from nonbioluminescent Anthozoa species, Nature Biotechnology 17(10):969–973; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10504696/
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22:20
Dedicated anti-creationist makes huge blunder
In a recent presentation on human-chimp similarities to LOGOS Research Associates, I made the (correct) claim that most new mutations are lost. An opponent attempted to make hay of this, claiming it disproves the 'creationist' calculations of the time to Y Chromosome Adam and Mitochondrial Eve. What he failed to understand, however, is that the Y and mt chromosomes are haploid and behave very differently to the rest of the genome. In fact, mutations occur in them in a ratchet-like manner and no degree of natural selection can change that. Do you want a lesson in population genetics? Tune in!
Notes and links:
My presentation to LOGOS Research Associates: "Chimp and Human (Dis)similarities by Dr. Robert Carter"
Dan's attempt at a rebuttal: "Professional Creationist Makes Huge Admission" by Creation Myths
An older video where I answer the same claims (Creation Myths ignores other people!): Genealogy vs Phylogeny: The War Continues
Rupe and Sanford (2013) Using Numerical Simulation to Better Understand Fixation Rates, and Establishment of a New Principle: Haldane’s Ratchet
Carter (2023) Genealogical vs Phylogenetic Mutation Rates: Answering a Challenge
Fixation (population genetics) on Wikipedia
A shrinking date for Eve
Natural Selection in Paradise
The 'two circles' illustration
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1:29:12
Your favorite cheese might be facing extinction
In a recent Creation magazine article, I talked about an interesting new case study done on one of the world's most favorite cheeses, Brie, and its relatives Camembert and Roquefort. A long time ago, cheesemakers unknowingly selected non-sexually reproducing fungal lines for these cheeses. Now, many decades later, mutations have built up in this lines to the point where they are starting to have trouble reproducing. Rescue efforts are underway, but in the meantime this gives us an object lesson about the impossibility of evolution, specifically the survival of the first organisms, which would not have been able to go through sexual recombination.
Links:
The Creation magazine paper: creation.com/cheese-verge-of-extinction
Signup for Creation magazine here: creation.com/en-us/creation-magazine
The original research: Harmi, M., French cheese under threat, news.cnrs.fr, 16 Jan 2024.
Additional info on Muller's ratchet: dl0.creation.com/articles/p145/c14588/j29_2_70-77.pdf
About Dr. Robert Carter: creation.com/dr-robert-carter-cv
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4:57
Mendel’s Law of Exponential Trait Combination
Gregor Mendel was the father of modern genetics. He wrote his most important papers on the topic just a few years after Darwin published the Origin of Species. What people don't realize is that Mendel's papers did not only describe how traits are passed down. He also explained how his ideas of genetics lead directly to an explanation of the origin of species. Was Mendel directly and purposefully contradicting Darwin?
Links and notes:
Crompton et al. 2024 Mendelian speciation, part 1—what is the abundant source of significant biodiversity, J Creation 37(3):110–120, 2023.
Crompton et al. 2024 Mendelian speciation, part 2—latent genetic information, J Creation 38(1):77–86, 2024.
Crompton et al. 2024 Mendelian speciation, part 3—fixation and reproductive isolation, J Creation 382):97–104, 2024.
Crompton et al. 2024 Mendelian speciation, part 4—adaptive radiations and cis-evolution, J Creation 38(2):105–112, 2024.
Gregor Mendel on Wikipedia
"They believe in bigger miracles than I do" on YouTube.com
Species were designed to change on BiblicalGenetics.com
Species were Designed to Change on Creation.com
Arguments we think a creationist should not use on creation.com
Wort und Wissen
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14:21
Seabird shennanigans
Dr Carter spent some time recently in New Zealand. While there, he stopped by a giant colony of gannets. These sea birds number in the millions but they create a bit of a taxonomic mystery. Are three living species of gannets and the eight living species of booby one 'created kind'? What about the cormorants? Should they also be included? Baraminology has not revealed the limits of the created kinds, so we have much work still to do.
Notes and links:
Species were designed to change, part 1
God Deliberately Engineered Life to Change, but How Much Change is Allowed?
Biblical Biology 101 (my new book!)
South Africa