rungs and the sugar and phosphate
molecules forming the vertical
sidepieces of the ladder.
An important property of DNA is
that it can replicate, or make copies
of itself. Each strand of DNA in the
double helix can serve as a pattern
for duplicating the sequence of
bases. This is critical when cells
divide because each new cell needs
to have an exact copy of the DNA
present in the old cell.
DNA is a double helix formed by
base pairs attached to a sugar-
phosphate backbone. [1]
If you watch, Dr Georgia Purdom
Wonders of DNA on You Tube she
explains that we are still finding out
more about DNA. We are fearfully
and wonderfully made indeed:
Genesis 1:26-27 states, ‘Let us
make man in our image and in So,
God created man in His own image.’
What a wonderful creation? Adam
and Eve were made perfect human
beings with no defect at all... then
came sin which brought corruption
to our flesh causing sickness and
disease. Whilst scientists are trying
to correct all the fleshly problems
the real problem is the corruption
of man’s soul through sin. That
can be instantly changed through
recognising that Jesus paid the
price for sin with His own blood
so that we can be brought back
to God and no matter what our
problems are He can and will set us
free from the effects of sin. A seed
of faith is all we need to change our
Spiritual DNA to make us more like
Jesus. When we see Him we shall
be like Him.
It is only during this last century that
DNA was discovered and used to
actually solve a serial murder crime:
Colin Pitchfork (born 23 March
1961) is a British convicted murderer
and rapist. He is the first person
convicted of a crime based on DNA
fingerprinting evidence and the
first to be caught as a result of mass
DNA screening. (Wikipedia).
Designer Babies
Scientists claim that current research
allows them to change components
of
DNA
through
genetic
engineering to replace some of the
characteristics in an unborn baby.
For example, if you do not want a
child to have brown eyes they can
change the DNA to make them into
a different colour. They justify this
procedure by explaining that an
unborn child with a life threatening
disease per se, can alter the DNA
to ensure the child is born ‘normal’.
Take this a stage further and YOU
CAN IMAGINE tailor making your
baby AFTER YOUR OWN IMAGE.
Was this what Hitler wanted? All
children to be blue eyed and
blonde? Genetic Engineering is
the deliberate modification of the
characteristics of an organism by
manipulating its genetic material.
Case Studies
In 2000 a Scottish couple were
involved in a fight to be able to
choose the sex of their baby through
IVF. Their only daughter, Nicole,
had died in a bonfire accident the
year before. They wanted to use
Preimplantation Genetic Screening
to ensure that their next child was
a girl.
Using Preimplantation Genetic
Screening to choose the gender
of a child is illegal in the UK. The
only exceptions are when there is
medical need for this to happen.
The couple in this news article
sought a change to the guidelines
to allow them to do this.
happy with who we are is saying
that God made a mistake. He does
not make mistakes, we do. Who are
we to say one person’s life is more
sacred than another’s?
To legalise the use of the most
vulnerable human being to cure
is unworthy of man. To conceive
a child to use him - even if it is to
cure - is not respectful of his dignity.
Archbishop Pierre d’Ornellas of
Rennes and other French bishops
We would be concerned to see
PGD (Preimplantation Genetic
Diagnosis) used for anything other
than serious genetic disorders,
because
of
the
increased
commodification of babies. Church
of England statement in 2004
“Beloved, now we are children
of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we
know that when He is revealed, we
shall be like Him, for we shall see
Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2
For reflection and discussion
What would Christians say about
using Preimplantation Genetic
Screening to choose the gender of
a child?
Why do some Christians have
different views about genetic
engineering for therapy reasons,
eg curing illnesses or genetic
conditions and for enhancement
reasons, eg for a certain appearance
or desirable qualities?
We would be very interested
in your views about the above
subject. Please write to: editor@
thesharemagazine.com p
Moral/Ethical Quandaries
The key principle for Christians is
the sanctity of life as God ordained
it and created it. Saying we are not
By Barbara Payne
intercessor, worship leader,
retired minister and
Divorce Care counsellor
[1] U.S. National Library of Medicine
October - December 2017
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