Answering The Critics

Genetic Entropy: Fact or Fiction – Part 1

By Steve Hudgik

Genetic entropy provides overwhelming scientific evidence that evolution never happened. If genetic entropy is true (and it is), evolution is impossible. It makes sense that science and the Bible would agree on this. The Bible leaves no room for evolution, and we'd expect to see that in nature... and we do.

As a starting point, we need to define genetic entropy. What are we talking about when we use the term, “genetic entropy?” Dr. John Sanford is the geneticist who first studied this. Here is how he defines genetic entropy:

“The genetic degeneration of living things.

“Genetic entropy is the systematic breakdown of the internal biological information systems that make life alive. Genetic entropy results from genetic mutations, which are typographical errors in the programming of life (life’s instruction manuals). Mutations systematically erode the information that encodes life’s many essential functions. Biological information consists of a large set of specifications, and random mutations systematically scramble these specifications – gradually but relentlessly destroying the programming instructions essential to life.” - https://www.geneticentropy.org/whats-genetic-entropy

What this means is that with each generation our genome (our genetic information) is degrading. Unlike the claim of evolution that we are improving, genetic entropy states that we are de-evolving. We are losing information from our genome with each generation... mutations are accumulating, and we are heading toward extinction.”

All Mutations Are Harmful:

A basic premise of genetic entropy is that essentially all random mutations are harmful on the molecular level. This is disputed by evolution proponents who show there are beneficial mutations. However, the evolution proponents are setting up a strawman they easily knock down.

As examples of beneficial mutations evolutionists cite mutations such as sickle-cell anemia preventing malaria, antibiotic resistance, and nylon eating bacteria. What the evolutionists miss is that, all of these, and every other example of a beneficial mutation, arise from either damage to the genome or an existing built-in adaptability.

The error the evolutionists are making is that of looking at the macro picture. For example, observations of changes in how the organism functions. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Genetic entropy looks at the organism at the molecular level. At that level, we see that the changes in function often derive from molecular level degradation. Let's look at the three examples:

Sickle-Cell Anemia: This mutation provides a major benefit in malaria infested areas of the world... immunity to malaria. However, sickle-cell is caused by a mutation that damages the genetic instructions for producing hemoglobin. The hemoglobin is malformed and not able to carry oxygen as well. This “beneficial” mutation results from a degradation of the genome. It shows that a benefit (immunity to malaria), in a localized geographical area, can result from random mutations. However, the mutation damages the genome, resulting in the person being overall less fit.

Sickle-cell is a chronic and painful blood disorder. Evolution proponents don't mention that. They never talk about the other effects of sickle-cell anemia... the pain, the swelling of hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed growth, vision problems and other issues. Sickle-cell anemia is a serious and unpleasant disease that can cause early death... but they don't talk about that.

Antibiotic Resistance – In hospital environments bacteria mutate and become resistant to common antibiotics. This is a benefit to the bacteria. They survive. However, what is the cause? There are a variety of mutations that produce antibiotic resistance. However, they all have one characteristic in common... a mutation that breaks something. A mutation that degrades the normal functioning of the cell.

As an example, I'll quote Dr. Don Batten, writing in an article titled: “Antibiotic resistance: Evolution in action?”

“Resistance to penicillin provides a classic example. Some bacteria produce small amounts of penicillinase to break down the small amounts of naturally occurring penicillin in their environment, but not enough to cope with the amount given to patients. A mutation in the system that limits the amount of penicillinase produced can mean that far more is made, so the bacteria will be resistant. However, as with some of the other cases above, in the wild, these resistant bacteria, which can no longer control the production of penicillinase, will be out-competed by bacteria that are not squandering scarce resources on penicillinase production.”

What is the cure for antibiotic resistance? If possible, send the person home. Once they are outside of the hospital's use of antibiotics, the mutated, and thus weaker versions of the bacteria will lose out to the normal, stronger bacteria.

Nylon Eating Bacteria: Nylon is a synthetic fabric invented in the 20th century. In 1975, bacteria were discovered that could live on the waste products produced by nylon manufacturing. Wow! These bacteria had evolved a new ability to feed on a material that had never existed before. Certainly this is an example of evolution in action.

This looked like THE mutation that would prove evolution. The mutation that resulted in nylon eating ability did not break or damage anything. It was a “new” feature that appeared out of nowhere... or did it?

As we've learned more about genetics we have seen that there are “mutations” designed into the genome of all living organisms. For example, in experiments with mice it was found that when placed in a stressful environment, all of the mice quickly developed the same mutation. This was repeatable with different groups of mice. Mutations that are genetically the same, happen quickly, and are repeatable, are not a characteristic of random mutations. What was learned is that, organisms have preprogrammed genetic changes that are activated under specific environmental conditions. That is what resulted in nylon eating bacteria.

It was found that the bacteria already had the genetic information that allowed them to degrade and metabolize nylon as a source of carbon and nitrogen. The bacteria was already known for its ability to adapt to unusual food sources—such as toluene, naphthalene, camphor, salicylates and alkanes. The composition of nylon made it just another food source for this bacteria.

The evolutionist's assertion that there are mutations that are not deleterious is a false proposition, not supported by observational science. When you all of the facts, the truth is, even if there is a benefit in specific situations, at the molecular level the organism has degraded and lost genetic information. It has de-evolved.

Next: Genetic Entropy #2: Natural Selection