This debate between Casey Luskin and Dan Stern Cardinale (Dr. Dan) offers a great deal in terms of understanding life, its complexity, and design at the cellular and molecular level. The debate is largely about the amount of junk found in our DNA and its functionality.

The evolutionary concept of Junk DNA– the belief that 99% of our DNA is useless junk- has been thoroughly debunked. Prominent evolutionary biologists have had to slowly admit this after decades of research. Yet there are some holdouts who are unwilling to concede, and Dr. Dan is one.

What I’ll concentrate on in this post is the sheer complexity of the human genome. Most people don’t appreciate the overwhelming complexity in our cells. Thus evolutionists tend to shrug off its origin, suggesting that since we exist, it’s not an issue: “Nothing to see here…” But if we take the time to unpack the layers and analyze the incredible design features, we’re left to marvel at the God who designed it. But in order to do this subject justice, my post will necessarily be on the technical side. Don’t be intimidated though. Enjoy it because it raises an important question… Does God exist? I say he does. But if not, then how did all this happen on its own? Is it really possible for chemicals to come together and form increasingly complex lifeforms that evolve complex body plans capable of complex functions?

According to Dr. Dan, the sequence of DNA plays an important role and contributes to the physiology of a cell in a way that helps it survive and accomplish specific tasks. In other words, DNA is like a computer code, just far more complex. Did God design this sequential code, or did it arise naturally by chance?

Dr. Dan describes a maintenance process called “purifying selection” that operates to keep the DNA sequences the same. This means the cell has controls in place to make sure those sequences don’t change, which would be detrimental. If God doesn’t exist, how did this ingeniously necessary process arise? Was there a process of experimentation? Or did it happen in the right sequence at the right time the very first time? Our skepticism should abound!

Another function that occurs within cells is anti-viral activity, and it requires elements called promoters, and regulators. This function is referred to as “biochemical specificity” and require specific sequences. In fact, there are only a limited number of sequences viable within an entire universe of potential options. Without consciousness or a brain to figure all this out, how did the first cell accomplish this function within a reasonable amount of time?

Now get this. About 75 percent of the genome is transcribed. Transcription is an extremely complicated process. I transcribed parts of this debate, and it was very tedious. But at the cellular level, transcription starts with the DNA; specific enzymes then come along and link nucleotides to form a strand of RNA by using DNA as a template. Templates are also used to make proteins from MRNA, and then there’s reverse transcription where the enzyme reverse transcriptase is used as a catalyst in making a copy of DNA from RNA. Was all this an accident? Or did it happen on purpose and by design?

There are many different kinds of RNA, proteins (over 100,000 in humans), enzymes and transcription. There’s polyadenylated RNA, non-polyadenylated RNA, and spurious transcription, just to name a few. And they all have very specific, necessary functions.

Did you know that parts of a genome can be targeted? But what does it take to target something? A target must be identified and acted upon. How does this happen by chance? Or was this intended?

There are regulatory regions in the genome which include promoters, enhancers and silencers. These regions determine where the process of transcription begins and effect the level of transcription. Isn’t it amazing how these components work together or independently to accomplish assigned tasks?

Exons are protein coding regions found in the genome, and introns are noncoding regions. Without these, complex life couldn’t exist. Interestingly, exons and introns are used in RNA splicing, a complex process where introns are removed and exons joined.

Some RNA genes go on to be expressed as RNA but are not translated into a protein. These consist of transfer RNA’s, ribosomal RNA’s, and long non-coding RNA’s. How was all this decided originally?

There are structural regions that include centromeres and telomeres, scaffolding regions used for protein attachment, and spacer regions that require a certain length. Did the first cells have all this?

Transcription factors are proteins that grab on to the DNA and regulate the process of transcription. Eight percent of the genome involves binding the transcription factors. This binding occurs on different levels, where some grab on briefly and then let go. What natural forces could make this happen at the right time and place, and how did it know the importance of binding?

There’s redundancy. Why would unconscious molecules think of redundancy?

Moving around within the genome are something called retrotransposons. These genetic elements are capable of copy-and-paste functions, whereas DNA transposons do cut-and-paste functions by using an enzyme and inserting themselves inside the DNA. According to Luskin, these elements are important for reengineering the genome in response to environmental stress. When you copy-and-paste something in a document, does it happen by itself, or must you be intentional?

LINEs (Long interspersed nuclear elements) are other elements in the genome that complete a variety of functions including transcription, reverse transcription, DNA cutting, and more.

Stern refers to molecules that may affect certain processes without regulating those processes. Some proteins are translated at certain rates, with some rates being tightly constrained so that your cells clamp down to make sure it works the way it should. Brilliant!

Amazingly, our cells contain rheostats, which function like a thermostat. These can be fine-tuned very precisely for various functions. Luskin explains that there are pre-planned variations within the genome that can modulate switches within predesigned parameters.

I’ll end here as I think this is sufficient to briefly convey the complexity of cellular activity at molecular level. Please keep in mind, these processes are far more complex than what can be described here. The entire debate is about 2 hours and 15 minutes, which might prohibit some from viewing it, but if you want to appreciate complexity, the debate is certainly helpful, but I’d encourage further research into all these elements and functions as I believe it makes the case that life was designed by God and did not come about by random acts of nature. Adding the right chemicals at the right time into a mixture will never produce function or life, no matter how many years one wishes to grant. Intelligence is required. And that’s why God is the best explanation for the origin of life. He is the intelligent designer who created the heavens and earth and everything in them.