The Evolutionary Origins of Genetic Information

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dc.contributor.authorFreeland, Stephen
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-28T14:49:24Z
dc.date.available2022-03-28T14:49:24Z
dc.date.issued2011-12
dc.description.abstractAny living branch of science achieves progress by testing new ideas. The results of these tests determine whether each new idea is accepted as a change to what we thought we knew, is dismissed as incorrect, or simply stagnates, owing to a lack of clear evidence. For evolutionary theory, one such proposition is that some features of genetic information cannot evolve through natural processes unless we allow a role for an intelligent designer. This proposition claims testability by defining information in a way that is usually reserved for human creations, such as computer program ming code. The argument is that since we know that intelligent beings create computer code, then perhaps similar features found within genetic information indicate a similar origin. However, many biologists perceive that they are able to understand exactly where life’s genetic information comes from (the local environment) by thinking in terms of more fundamental and well-established definitions of information that do not involve intelligent design. Current science does not have a detailed, widely accepted description for how a genetic information system evolved in the first place. Intelligent design (ID) proponents suggest that this is a key weakness of existing evolutionary theory, consistent with the need for an intelligent designer. I describe the progress that mainstream science has made toward understanding the origin of genetic information ever since the molecular basis of genetic information was first understood, encouraging readers to reach their own conclusions.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/2011/PSCF12-11Freeland.pdfen_US
dc.format.extent15 pagesen_US
dc.genrearticlesen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2b33w-s2yd
dc.identifier.citation“The Origins of Genetic Information" Freeland S. Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, 63(4): 240-254en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/24445
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherThe American Scientific Affliciationen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Individualized Study Program (INDS)
dc.rightsThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.en_US
dc.subjectintelligent design theoryen_US
dc.subjectevolutionary theoryen_US
dc.titleThe Evolutionary Origins of Genetic Informationen_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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