6000 Years and One Family

Posted on: 29 January 2025 by Andrew Perry
Posted in: [Creation]

This article is about mitochondrial DNA. If you already feel blinded by science, please read on, as I will attempt to explain things in simple terms.

In previous articles, we looked at the subject of DNA and also at the complexity of the cell. Each of our cells contains a number of working components. Each cell has a nucleus which contains our main DNA. Another cell component is known as a mitochondrion, and each cell contains a number of mitochondria, the main function of which is to generate energy via a complex chemical reaction between sugar and oxygen. Each mitochondrion however contains a small fragment of DNA, completely separate from the nuclear DNA, and this is known as mitochondrial DNA.

During fertilisation/conception, the sperm contains half the father's DNA profile, and likewise the egg contains the half the mother's DNA profile, thus combining to create a new unique individual. Mitochondrial DNA is different however in that it is always supplied by the egg. As a result it is exclusively passed down the female line and can therefore only be inherited from the individual's mother. Because it works on simpler rules of inheritance than nuclear DNA, it would be expected to show less variation between people than does the nuclear DNA, and this is found to be the case. Variations are however observable, but we need to take into account the matter of mutations. I've mentioned these in earlier articles, but basically a mutation is an accidental change that occurs from time to time in a DNA molecule, thus altering the code. These are often harmless in themselves but can from time to time have detrimental effects.

Scientific research has shown that mitochondrial DNA mutates on average about once in every three generations. If one looks at the variation of mitochondrial DNA across the different people groups of the world's population, taking into account the expected frequency of mutations, the results are totally consistent with a model in which we are all descended from one woman about 6000 years ago (namely Eve as recorded in the Biblical account of creation). The results are however inconsistent with an evolutionary timeframe, as mitochondrial DNA would have completely mutated into a far more diverse state over millions of years.

If we draw a family tree of the world's population using mitochondrial DNA trends, we can actually map out the distribution of people across the globe. This is totally consistent with the story of Noah and the flood as recorded in the Bible. Eight people were saved through the flood, namely Noah and his wife, plus their three sons (Shem, Ham and Japheth) and their respective wives. Their offspring then re-populated the earth, with Shem's family initially migrating towards Asia, Ham's family towards Africa and Japheth's family towards Europe. With many migrations of people down through history, the global distribution of ethnic groups is actually now very much more complicated, but a lot of research has been made in this field, and we can still say with confidence that we have a family tree that is consistent with the Biblical account of Noah and the flood.

This is an absolutely amazing set of findings, totally defending the Biblical timeframe of history!

If you found this interesting and want to know more, I recommend the following YouTube video by Dr. Kurt Wise:

The Appreciation of Beauty

Amino Acids and Proteins Part 1