| Humans are a Family - Christians are a Family by Warren Krug (March-April, 2004) |
Discover magazine in a review of the year 2003 in science reports
on the work of geneticists who have determined in their own way
that all modern humans are descended from a population of as few
as 2,000 individuals.
Humans are so closely related, the magazine claims, that our entire
population shows less genetic diversity than that of a small group of
chimpanzees. “Our Genes May Prove It: We Are Family,” says the
headline.
on the work of geneticists who have determined in their own way
that all modern humans are descended from a population of as few
as 2,000 individuals.
Humans are so closely related, the magazine claims, that our entire
population shows less genetic diversity than that of a small group of
chimpanzees. “Our Genes May Prove It: We Are Family,” says the
headline.
The geneticists say the new evidence backs up the out-of-Africa theory in which these 2,000 hunter-gatherers
evolved in northern Africa before migrating to other continents.
They examined short, repetitive fragments of DNA called microsatellites, markers found in every person. They
say they can determine from these markers when early human populations diverged from each other.
But they don’t sound too sure of themselves.”We’re now trying to confirm these results using different models of
how evolution took place,” says one scientist.
The Bible paints a clearer picture of how we got to where we are although it doesn’t answer all the questions.
We know the human race began with two people who lived in a place called the Garden of Eden. Where the
Garden was located has been debated over the centuries. Some of the sites nominated as its location include
Mongolia, India, Ethiopia, Turkey, Iraq, and even the Persian Gulf. But it doesn’t matter.
When the Flood destroyed the world, the only survivors were four families who emerged from the ark to begin
the process of repopulating the world. The ark came to rest in the “mountains of Ararat” which may or may not
have been where the modern Mt. Ararat is located in Turkey
What is important is that all modern peoples of all races are descended from a small population, as the
geneticists say. We indeed are family. But let there be no mistake. Our ancestors were all 100% human.
We Christians are members of another family—the family of believers. We have a Heavenly Father and a Savior
Who also is our Brother. May God grant that more and more people become members of this spiritual family!
LSI
—Warren Krug, editor
evolved in northern Africa before migrating to other continents.
They examined short, repetitive fragments of DNA called microsatellites, markers found in every person. They
say they can determine from these markers when early human populations diverged from each other.
But they don’t sound too sure of themselves.”We’re now trying to confirm these results using different models of
how evolution took place,” says one scientist.
The Bible paints a clearer picture of how we got to where we are although it doesn’t answer all the questions.
We know the human race began with two people who lived in a place called the Garden of Eden. Where the
Garden was located has been debated over the centuries. Some of the sites nominated as its location include
Mongolia, India, Ethiopia, Turkey, Iraq, and even the Persian Gulf. But it doesn’t matter.
When the Flood destroyed the world, the only survivors were four families who emerged from the ark to begin
the process of repopulating the world. The ark came to rest in the “mountains of Ararat” which may or may not
have been where the modern Mt. Ararat is located in Turkey
What is important is that all modern peoples of all races are descended from a small population, as the
geneticists say. We indeed are family. But let there be no mistake. Our ancestors were all 100% human.
We Christians are members of another family—the family of believers. We have a Heavenly Father and a Savior
Who also is our Brother. May God grant that more and more people become members of this spiritual family!
LSI
—Warren Krug, editor