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EVOLVED2 4'?m2f Evolution vs creation: missing genes

LIZ -- (enters wearing white lab coat, carrying long computer
print out, shouts) Hey, Amy. Come quick! We finally finished.

AMY -- (enters opposite) No kidding?! You really finished?!

LIZ -- (admiring printout) Yes. We have now decoded the entire
human genome. Take a look.

AMY -- No kidding!? The entire genome?

LIZ -- Yes!

AMY -- All 46 chromosomes?! (takes printout)

LIZ -- Yes. Look.

AMY -- Wow! Look at all the labels. (points and reads) Hand.
Finger. Ear lobe. Hair. Eyes. Nose.... Huh.

LIZ -- What's the matter?

AMY -- These are all PHYSICAL characteristics.

LIZ -- Of course. Human chromosomes control all the physical
characteristics. And they're all here. Every one.

AMY -- No. I don't even see all the PHYSICAL characteristics.

LIZ -- What's missing?

AMY -- I don't see any genes for the shapes of the various cell
types, you know, like muscle cells or the brain cells or...

LIZ -- There's no need for a gene for the shape of muscle cells.
All muscle cells are all the same shape. They're shaped like
muscle cells. And all brain cells are shaped like brain cells.
They're all alike.

AMY -- Yes. But you said this gene map would tell us the shape
and size and color of all the structures of the body. Where does
it say that the muscle cells must be long and thin and the brain
cell must be shaped like a spider? I don't see any labels for
it. Nor do I see a gene that tells how the DNA folds itself so
neatly the same way everytime or how each cell knows that it
needs a cell wall or even how to get the materials for a cell
wall. Where's the gene that tells the cells to start dividing
and when?

LIZ -- It doesn't say, because there's no variation in those
things. They're automatic. If there's no variation, there
doesn't have to be a gene for it.

AMY -- But how does the developing fetus no what shape the
various cells are? How do the developing mass of cells know
which cell starts changing to brain cells and when to start
changing? Which gene controls that? I can't find it.

LIZ -- I can't either. But if there's no variation, there's no
gene for it.

AMY -- If there's no gene for it, what tells the mass of cells
which cells must change to brain cells and which cells must
convert to muscle cells? Something has to tell it.

LIZ -- Well, it's not here. That's all I know.

AMY -- That's not all that's missing.

LIZ -- What else is missing?

AMY -- Where's the label for personality?

LIZ -- Personality?

AMY -- Yes. Some babies are born docile, some are very active.
Some grow up to be outgoing. Some grow up in the same
environment to be quiet and shy. I don't see any labels for
quiet and shy.

LIZ -- That's not a physical characteristic.

AMY -- No, it's not. But SOMETHING has to tell the baby what
kind of temperament he'll have.

LIZ -- Well, those aren't PHYSICAL characteristics. Genes only
control PHYSICAL characteristics.

AMY -- Yes, but they're characteristics. And they vary.
Shouldn't they be in the genes somewhere?

LIZ -- Well, I suppose...

AMY -- Maybe you haven't decoded everything.

LIZ -- Yes, we have. This is the whole gene map.

AMY -- No, there's too much information missing. You did say
that the DNA was the ONLY thing the adult passes on to the next
generation?

LIZ -- Yes. Of course. We know that for sure from our
experiments with cloning. We can put the DNA from one cell into
the nucleus of a different cell and get a completely different
animal. It's definitely all in the DNA.

AMY -- Then, why is there so much information missing?

LIZ -- Maybe we did miss something. I wonder where it is.

AMY -- You mean WHO it is.

LIZ -- WHO? (snatches printout, turns, exits) Oh, no you don't!
You're not bringing God into this. I'll find it! I'll find it if
it kills me!

AMY -- (follows) That's what I'm afraid of.

©2007 Bob Snook. Conditions for use:
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