DNA and Evolution A Contentious Coupling

While exploring the intricacies of DNA and evolution for my book, “Rogues in Paradise,” I found an amazing in-depth article by Oliver Burrkeman in The Guardian examining Darwin’s traditional theory of evolution by natural selection. New DNA and genetics seem to challenge the foundation of evolution.  It forces me to question the essence of evolution in the face of new findings in DNA.

What is DNA

Life’s origins trace back millions of years when the simplest forms, tiny micro-organisms, emerged. These life-starters were nucleotides, particular molecules capable of self-replication. Picture them as building blocks with a sugar molecule, a phosphate, and a nitrogen base. These nucleotides were the pioneers, moving and dividing to create more of themselves. Imagine a bustling world where these microscopic entities, like early pioneers, multiplied and spread. The key to their self-replication lay in the order of these nucleotides—like a genetic code that guided their growth. They were what are now called RNA and DNA. Both are made up of chains of these nucleotides. (i)

In attempts to understand this ancient past, scientists recreated early Earth conditions in experiments. Although they didn’t directly create DNA or RNA, they showed that the basic ingredients for life, such as sugars and amino acids, could spontaneously form. The mystery deepens when we consider the shift from RNA to DNA, the more stable genetic code. Some propose they emerged together, challenging the idea of a step-by-step evolution. Recent experiments hint at the spontaneous formation of DNA subunits, suggesting a more intertwined origin.

The series in DNA varies from individual to individual, where groups, families, and ancestors share similar strands. It is more complex than a world library with thousands of books on many topics. Think of this as a jungle of letters in the alphabet combining to form the book’s name and their topics and categories. All the books share the letters from the same alphabet. However, the series in which these letters are arranged varies from book to book. The sequence of the letters makes each book unique! So it is with DNA. They are a unique combination of code, like letters in the alphabet. The Human Genome Project aimed to map the different sequences of DNA. It is a massive project stemming from life’s humble beginnings as minuscule nucleotides; self-replicating molecules that set the stage for the extraordinary journey of life on Earth.

Oliver Burkeman’s thought-provoking article adds a captivating layer to our understanding of evolution, revealing intriguing contradictions in DNA and genealogy studies. The arguments challenge the idea that evolution alone defines our origins, opening the door to a more complex and nuanced chronology of evolutionary history.

Chicken Experiment on Stress Genetics

I found the peculiar case of Swedish chickens jarring. The hens were exposed to a stressful environment, which caused them to be disoriented and traumatized. Astonishingly, even when returned to a non-stressful setting, the offspring of these chickens exhibited poor abilities in tasks their stressed mothers struggled with. This suggested a transgenerational impact of stress, overturning the conventional belief that genes are passed down unaltered. Another study from Sweden examined life spans in Norrbotten, where harvests are typically sparse but periodically abundant, resulting in people living with extremely varying food intake over the years. A solitary period of severe overeating amid the standard short supply caused offsprings two generations later to live an average of 32 years less than if his childhood food consumption had been steadier.

Inherited Trauma

So, living in a stress-inducing henhouse or switching between overeating and starving can affect how genetics transfer to future generations. If so, Darwin’s version of natural selection is not absolute. Genes experience random mutations in every generation, leading to subtle variations in offspring compared to their parents. Mutations that confer advantages for an organism’s thriving and reproduction within its specific environment are likely to proliferate through populations. Conversely, mutations that hinder successful breeding will gradually diminish over time.

The much-mocked pre-Darwinian zoologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, whose own version of evolution held that giraffes have lengthy necks since their forefathers were “required to search on the fallen leaves of trees and to make consistent initiatives to reach them”. As a matter of nature, he probably had not been right. However, Lamarck was refuted by others like David Shenk, who says, “Any secondary school trainee understands that genes are handed down unmodified from moms and dad to child and to the future generation and the next. In Other words, he argues that the lifestyle can not alter heredity.

Other say lifestyle can alter heredity.

Epigenetics unravels a complex network surrounding DNA, acting as a switchboard for gene expression. Recent studies, including the Swedish chicken research, reveal that environmental changes can leave lasting imprints on the epigenome, altering gene expression for generations. This revelation challenges the classical narrative of natural selection and evolution. It further explores the implications of horizontal gene transfer, not just vertically from ancestors to descendants, but between organisms. It challenges the concept of defining organisms and questions about the fluidity of genetic material.

The Human Genome Contains Viruses

Scientists have also discovered that substantial portions of the human genome contain viruses or virus-like elements that may have entered through infection. This suggests that natural selection operates on random mutations and novel material introduced from external sources. Could the earlier phases of evolution have relied more on horizontal exchange? This leads to a philosophical quandary: if a genome serves as the defining factor for an organism, yet genes can be freely exchanged between organisms, what significance does it hold to establishing a distinct boundary between one organism and another?

Social Significance

These findings that trauma can be inherited have significance to all those who were enslaved or mistreated by oppressors. This applies to indigenous people everywhere and to African slaves taken to the Caribbean and the Americas.

Diet is an essential factor in shaping our heritage.

Looking to redress the abuse of the past it’s clear that poor diet and lifestyle have caused irreparable damage. With the findings above, there is now a case to claim for inherited trauma and the transgenerational impact of stress resulting from past abuse.  I expect it will be a part of future negotiations for reparation.

This image from Fronteirsin is part of a mosaic that explains the lifecycle of tapeworms digested with raw or rotten meat (ii).

While addressing the London School of Economics (LSE), Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados emphasized the imperative of reparations to address the enduring legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Mottley asserted, ‘Many countries and corporations continue to benefit from the wealth extracted through the exploitation of others, thus have an ethical responsibility to pay reparations.’ (iii)

Now, the dimension of DNA connected to past abuse adds a new perspective to contemporary issues of racism, poverty, family, and inequality, underscoring the urgent need for reparations to address the deep-seated trauma of historical injustices.

Need for a Better Understanding

All this means we need a more nuanced understanding of Darwinism and natural selection. The boundaries between nature and nurture become increasingly blurred, challenging our conventional terms and demanding a reevaluation of the very essence of evolution. In this evolving scientific landscape, the journey to comprehend the origins and development of life may be far from its conclusive destination.

Summary video

Rogues In Paradise and DNA

RoguesHistory is an Initiative of Rogues In Paradise. It explores the lesser-known aspects of the past, often through the lens of unsung heroes and everyday people.

To understand their roots and heritage, several characters in the book volunteered to take DNA tests.

The results highlighted traits and characteristics. One person found his tribe was a renowned dancer, which explained why he became a dancer. Others identified skills and beliefs they may have inherited from their African ancestors.

It also opened up questions about genealogy and how or if it matters. To get the book, register at https://sample.roguesinparadise.com.

You will receive a complimentary sample of several chapters and be advised when the book is published. Also, see the blog on the Pros and Cons of DNA testing.

Notes –

(i) RNA stands for Ribonucleic Acid, and DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Both are types of nucleic acids, essential molecules for storing and transmitting genetic information in living organisms. While RNA and DNA share similarities, such as being composed of nucleotides, they also have key differences in structure and function. RNA is typically single-stranded, while DNA is double-stranded, forming the famous double helix structure. Additionally, the sugar in the backbone of RNA is ribose, while in DNA, it is deoxyribose. The nitrogenous bases in RNA are adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U). In contrast, in DNA, thymine (T) replaces uracil. These molecules play crucial roles in transcription and translation, allowing genetic information to be transcribed from DNA to RNA and ultimately translated into proteins.

(ii) Ref: Pobiner, B. 2013. Evidence for meat-eating by early humans. Nat. Educ. Knowl. 4:1. doi: 10.1511/2016.119.110- Published in Frontiersin.org. Citation Grube N, Garcia HH and Perry GH (2021) Human Diet Evolution: Meat, Fire, and Tapeworms. Front. Young Minds. 9:555342. doi: 10.3389/frym.2020.555342

(iii) Will DNA be part of the argument for reparations?  See the LSE speech by Mia Mottley

Reference

Credit to Author Oliver Burrkeman, who did all the heavy lifting on this article

See his original work. “How we may have got it all wrong” – The Guardian–

Where did DNA come from: https://geneticsunzipped.com/transcripts/2021/8/26/where-did-dna-come-from