Francis Collins - Origin Blending
Dr. Francis S. Collins was born into an artistic family in Virginia. His personal interests would take him someplace far away from the country road of childhood.
Those interests led Collins through the University of Virginia, Yale University, and the University of North Carolina. His ultimate field of research took him on a journey that has unlocked significant mysteries related to the human body.
Collins, “…led the successful effort to complete Human Genome Project (HGP), a complex multidisciplinary scientific enterprise directed at mapping and sequencing all of the human DNA, and determining aspects of its function.” Furthermore, “His research has led to the identification of genes responsible for cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, Huntington s disease and Hutchison-Gilford progeria syndrome.” [1]
Collins also helped map the more than 3 billion letters in the human genome. This work is fully accessible to the scientific community resulting in additional research.
Collins does express concern that the work he has completed on the human genome could be abused “I feel passionately that if we learn how to use genetics to cure terrible diseases, that s a wonderful thing. But if we move away from that and talk about changing human characteristic to improve ourselves, that makes me very uneasy.”
Collins was a self-avowed atheist who attempted to prove there was no design to the existence of mankind. In the end, Collins claims it was actually scientific discovery that led him to the firm belief in a designer.
Interestingly, in what can only be described as a paradox, Collins considers Intelligent Design and Evolution compatible. In view of a biblical account of origins, Collins says, “Attaching oneself to such literal interpretations in the face of compelling scientific evidence pointing to the ancient age of Earth and the relatedness of living things by evolution seems neither wise nor necessary for the believer.” [2]
Further, according to a story from the Associated Press, Collins indicates the human ancestry record is far too diverse to have simply been a product of a single original man and woman.
Dr. Francis S. Collins is by observation a compassionate, driven man who has discovered a Designer in the midst of mapping the design.
Unlike Charles Darwin, Collins came from no faith in a Designer to discovering faith. While he may still be searching for personal answers to his questions on origin, his research has provided evidence of design in one of the most complex maps known to man.
I m certain there are others that have considered the possibility that an Intelligent Designer may have used evolution to create life as we know it. It is not entirely inconsistent with a Biblical view of creation. It may even be interesting to consider the possibilities, but can the blending of two such incompatible belief systems as creation and evolution really result in a satisfactory answer to the questions of origin?
From a purely logical standpoint, the probability of an evolutionary process being used to develop our present bodily form remains a statistical impossibility in context of scientific observation and the interdependent nature of our internal systems. Evolution might explain many things IF it had the scientific data to back it s claims. However, mounting scientific evidence points to a designed conclusion.
No one doubts the sincerity of Collin s belief in an evolutionary design theory, but by standing in the middle he s become out of step with both camps.
Does logic have a place in the discussion on origins? Can the world around us provide substantial clues as to the nature of our design?
The human genome provides 3 billion reasons to consider a designer.
Perhaps the human genome looks designed because it is designed.
[1] http://www.genome.gov/10000779
[2] http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/collins.commentary/index.html
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