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<strong>Series:</strong> Evolution Basics

Series: Evolution Basics

Written by BioLogos Fellow of Biology Dennis Venema, this series of posts is intended as a basic introduction to the science of evolution for non-specialists.
May 17, 2013 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, History of Life, Evolution - How It Works
Biological Evolution: What Makes it Good Science? Part 2

Biological Evolution: What Makes it Good Science? Part 2

The Galápagos Islands were not a distinct “center of creation,” but a workshop for evolution in which an ancestral species made it to the yet uncolonized island and underwent a massive degree of speciation to adapt to the environment of the island. This is precisely what one would expect if the species of islands had arisen by evolution.
Apr 16, 2013 
Michael Buratovich 
Genetics, History of Life
8
Meet Jimmy Lin, “Medical and Scientific Doxologist”

Meet Jimmy Lin, “Medical and Scientific Doxologist”

In our current culture, we’re defined by our jobs. It’s having a vocation. I wanted to shift away from that. I didn’t want to be a doctor first and foremost, or a scientist, but one who praises God.
Mar 25, 2013 
Jimmy Lin, Ruppel, Emily 
Genetics, Science as Christian Calling
2
Genes, Cells, and the Changing Face of Technology, Part 1

Genes, Cells, and the Changing Face of Technology, Part 1

Right on this tabletop, you could make materials that by current manufacturing processes would otherwise cause a great amount of environmental hazard … In 50 years, we should be able to do things in ways we don’t do them now, that will be cheaper, less toxic, less polluting, more efficient, and so forth…
Mar 12, 2013 
Doug Lauffenburger, Ruppel, Emily 
Genetics
1
<strong>Series:</strong> Made in the Image of God: The Theological Implications of Human Genomics

Series: Made in the Image of God: The Theological Implications of Human Genomics

This series by Denis Alexander reflects on advancements in genomics as well as their theological implications. He focuses on the relatedness of hominin genomes, arguing that this does not interfere with the image of God in humans. The image of God depends more on the capacity for relationship and covenant, not on a list of particular physical qualities. He then discusses why the recent studies of genomics provide “no grounds for genetic determinism.”
Jan 15, 2013 
Denis Alexander 
Genetics, Image of God, Atheism & Scientism
<strong>Series:</strong> Behe, Lenski and the “Edge” of Evolution

Series: Behe, Lenski and the “Edge” of Evolution

In this series, we reexamine the claim made by Intelligent Design proponent Michael Behe to have found a limit to “Darwinian” evolution in light of recent results from the laboratory of Richard Lenski.
Nov 29, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, ID Movement, Evolution - How It Works
<strong>Series:</strong> Decoding ENCODE

Series: Decoding ENCODE

The BioLogos Foundation explains to the findings of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project and responds to the claims that its discoveries challenge the theory of evolution, especially regarding so-called "junk DNA".
Sep 26, 2012 
Stephen Mapes, Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - Evidence, ID Movement
Denisovans, Humans and the Chromosome 2 Fusion

Denisovans, Humans and the Chromosome 2 Fusion

The Denisovans, an extinct hominid group that interbred with modern humans, made the news again lately with the publication of a more detailed study of their genome. One of the many interesting findings was that the Denisovans share the same chromosome 2 fusion that modern humans have.
Sep 06, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Human Origins, Evolution - Evidence
52
Becoming Human: New Insights from Genome-wide Functional Genomics

Becoming Human: New Insights from Genome-wide Functional Genomics

We live in exciting times for a geneticist: more and more genomes are being sequenced, and more and more novel genome-wide analyses are being performed to shed light on what all those newly-determined sequences mean.
Jul 27, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - How It Works
29
<strong>Series:</strong> Understanding Evolution: the Evolutionary Origins of Irreducible Complexity

Series: Understanding Evolution: the Evolutionary Origins of Irreducible Complexity

One of the challenges for discussing evolution within evangelical Christian circles is that there is widespread confusion about how evolution actually works. In this installment, we examine evidence that proteins in irreducibly complex (IC) systems can form and refine new interactions through gradual mechanisms.
Jun 28, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, ID Movement
Theory, Prediction and Converging Lines of Evidence, Part 2

Theory, Prediction and Converging Lines of Evidence, Part 2

We have already discussed hind limb and hair loss in whales, and now we turn to one of the remaining questions: tooth loss in the lineage leading to modern toothless whales.
Mar 22, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - Evidence
22
What is the genetic evidence for evolution?

What is the genetic evidence for evolution?

Darwin developed his theory of evolution by looking at scientific evidence available in the mid-1800s. Since then, the whole field of genetics has developed, adding a powerful independent line of evidence in support of evolution. Genes show how the physical traits of living things are handed down and modified from one generation to the next. By comparing the DNA of many organisms, scientists can map the relationships between species. This map is in remarkable agreement with Darwin’s predictions. The structure of chromosomes and particular genetic sequences point to the conclusion not just of common design, but common descent as well.
Mar 15, 2012 
 
Genetics, Evolution - Evidence
Possibilities and Second Chances

Possibilities and Second Chances

In today’s video, Dr. Rick Colling states that evolution is not merely the imposition of death and destruction and survival of the fittest. Rather, it is about second chances.
Feb 22, 2012 
Richard Colling 
Genetics, Evolution - How It Works
4
<strong>Series:</strong> Understanding Evolution: Is There “Junk” in Your Genome?

Series: Understanding Evolution: Is There “Junk” in Your Genome?

One of the challenges for discussing evolution within evangelical Christian circles is that there is widespread confusion about how evolution actually works. In this installment on “junk DNA”, we explore how genomics can be employed to test for non-functional sequences by comparing sequences between related organisms.
Feb 17, 2012 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - How It Works, Evolution - Evidence, ID Movement
Where is the Genetic Evidence for Evolution?

Where is the Genetic Evidence for Evolution?

The discovery of DNA has revolutionized our understanding of common descent, particularly in the past few decades. Mutated genes spread through populations over generations, leading to evolutionary change. In this podcast, we look at several examples of genetic evidence for evolution.
Jan 19, 2012 
Kelsey Luoma 
Genetics, Evolution - Evidence
50
Genesis and the Genome

Genesis and the Genome

This article provides an overview of genomics evidence for common ancestry and hominid population sizes, and briefly discusses the implications of these lines of evidence for scientific concordist approaches to the Genesis narratives.
Oct 19, 2011 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - Evidence
A Geneticist’s Journey

A Geneticist’s Journey

Prior to analyzing her genome, investigators expected to find that either she was a human being like us, or she was a Neanderthal. What they found, however, no one was prepared for. No one!
Sep 20, 2011 
Darrel Falk 
Genetics
6
<strong>Series:</strong> Evolution and the Origin of Biological Information

Series: Evolution and the Origin of Biological Information

Dennis Venema begins this series by summarizing a key Intelligent Design belief: that if we see specified information, we infer design because we are unaware of a mechanism that can bring about specified information in the absence of intelligence. In each subsequent part of the series, Venema shows why this argument is wrong. Venema presents evidence to show that natural mechanisms can, in fact, explain the origin of new information. He reminds his readers, however, that this does not in any manner exclude God from the process.
Jul 07, 2011 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Evolution - Evidence, ID Movement
A Tale of Three Creationists, Part 3

A Tale of Three Creationists, Part 3

One of the strongest pieces of evidence in favor of common ancestry between humans and chimpanzees (and other organisms) is a large number of “broken” genes, otherwise known as pseudogenes.
Feb 07, 2011 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Old Earth Creationism
55
An Evangelical Geneticist’s Critique of Reasons to Believe’s Testable Creation Model, Pt. 1

An Evangelical Geneticist’s Critique of Reasons to Believe’s Testable Creation Model, Pt. 1

Reasons to Believe (RTB) is the most influential Old-Earth Creationist organization in North America. While RTB supports a mainstream scientific position on cosmology and the age of the earth, RTB rejects evolutionary biology.
Nov 18, 2010 
Dennis Venema 
Genetics, Old Earth Creationism
54
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