It was front page news nationwide. “Genetic Code of Human Life Is Cracked by Scientists,” the New York Times announced on June 27, 2000.. This marked the first time the whole human DNA code—the blueprint of life—has been mapped. This enormous project, formally called the Human Genome Project, involved hundreds of scientists in a multibillion-dollar experiment funded by medical research grants from several countries. They found the exact sequencing of 3.2 billion chemical pairs in the DNA of a human. All sorts of wonderful benefits were predicted with this discovery, including a cure for cancer.

Unfortunately, the press reacted too quickly. Now it appears that there is a long road ahead with many difficult hurdles to clear. What was really uncovered was similar to four letters in the alphabet strung out in a DNA sequence of 3.2 billion chemical pairs. Much work still has to be done in understanding the meaning of those letters. The term “cracking the genetic code” implies scientists understand what the code means. The mapping of all that human genetic information is a great accomplishment. But to say that it is understood? This is nothing but a puffed-up exaggeration by the press.

Scientists have concluded that out of the billions of bits of DNA base pair data, only 30,000 to 120,000 are actually used. Beyond that extremely small percentage (0.00375 percent), the rest has been labeled as “junk” DNA or evolutionary “leftovers.” This so called “junk” DNA is something we don’t understand at this present time, but as research continues it may reveal new insights as to its genetic function. Creationists argue that junk DNA is highly misunderstood and could have been used to enable a rapid post-Flood biological adjustment.

Geneticists have found that genes can have more than one function. A gene is a sequence of base pairs on the DNA molecule that gives genetic information. For instance, the Distalless gene develops the appendages of mice, sea urchins, spiny worms and velvet worms. The same gene produces different structures. This phenomenon is being intensely studied and is still a big mystery.
Clearly, the genetic code is extremely complicated and the truth that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” is much more than just one explanation of origins. The opening words of the Bible give us the understanding that the incredible complexity and unique perfection of living organisms can be traced back to the uncreated First Cause of everything seen and unseen, the Ultimate Intelligent Designer, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.