John Hawks et al., “Population bottlenecks and Peistocene human evolution,”
Mol Biol Evol 17 (2000): 2-22
Francisco Ayala, “The myth of Eve: Molecular biology and human origins,”
Science 270 (1995): 1930-1936
Cann, R. L., Stoneking, M., & Wilson, A. C. “Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution” Nature 325, 31–36 (1987).
Now, can we return to the issue of monogenism, the Catholic doctrine that all humankind descended from two, sole, real human parents lovingly known as Adam and Eve?
Do you remember?
Dear Grannymh, StAnastasia and Edwest2,
I’d just like to make a few quick comments on Adam and Eve, and Noah’s Flood.
Yesterday, I posted some links on human uniqueness and what separates us from chimps. I also discussed the question of whether Adam and Eve could have been real people. For anyone who wants to have a look, the link is here:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost…postcount=1004
StAnastasia, you wrote on that thread:
“If there were indeed only two human parents, this would have to be reflected in a very constricted number of alleles in the human genome. This restriction of variation does not exist; therefore we cannot have had only two ancestral parents.”
Not necessarily. If the genetic bottleneck occurred far enough back in time, then it could be very small. In my opinion, 200,000 years ago is far too recent. However, a case can be made for a genetic bottleneck around 2 million years ago (the time when Homo erectus emerged), according to this article by Hawks et al., entitled “Populations Bottlenecks and Pleistocene Human Evolution” in Molecular Biology and Evolution 17:2-22 (2000), available online at
mbe.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/17/1/2 .The article by Hawks is much more nuanced in its conclusions than the original 1994 article by Francisco Ayala which I referred to.
Hawks writes: “We have no way of directly estimating with any certainty the size of the human species immediately after the bottleneck at its origin.”
Ayala’s article was written in 1994. That’s 15 years ago.
I should also like to point out that a new book will be on the market soon, entitled, “Should Christians Embrace Evolution?” (IVP, 2009) See this Website:
shouldchristiansembraceevolution.com/
The editor, Norman Nevin, is Professor Emeritus of Medical Genetics, Queen’s University of Belfast and Head of the Northern Regional Genetics Service. He has held the positions of secretary, vice-president and president of the UK Clinical Genetics Society as well as serving on various national and international committees notably the Human Genetics Advisory Commission. He is a member of the European Concerted Action for congenital abnormalities. Professor Nevin was a founder member of the UK Gene Therapy Advisory Committee. His research interests have resulted in over 300 peer reviewed publications on various aspects of genetics, especially single gene disorders and congenital abnormalities.
If this guy believes in Adam and Eve, then I for one am going to sit up and listen to what he has to say.
And as I pointed out yesterday, he is not alone. Dr. Jonathan Wells is also of the opinion that the biological evidence does not rule out monogenism.
Edwest2 (if you’re reading this):
You made some very interesting points about the Flood in your previous post. I have written about the flood previously, at Uncommon Descent. You might like to have a look at my post here:
uncommondescent.com/intel…comment-319741
Best wishes,
Vincent Torley
and granny’s response
Thank you Vincent,
Your comment about John Hawks’ paper being “more nuanced in its conclusions” is an understatement. This was the first paper which gave me needed encouragement to persist in my belief in two sole parents of the human race. Currently, Hawks is on leave from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, “working on several projects”. Contributor Sang-Hee Lee is now at the University of California at Riverside. Her research area also encouraged me.
In my humble opinion, the bottleneck theory is quoted as a mantra without ever examining what actually contributes to it. The
nuances in “Population Bottlenecks and Pleistocene Human Evolution” was full of small insights regarding bottlenecks – there is more than genetics.
I am wondering if I am off base. It seems to me that scientists who basically accept the materialistic views of the evolutionary theory are actually looking for the same evidence that I am. It seems to me that all of us are interested in how the human species came to be what it is today. What I see happening is that eventually there is a fork in the road. The materialistic viewpoint takes some people one way and Catholicism takes the way which can answer the serious questions about human life.
Blessings,
granny
Human life is meant for eternal life.