Are Humans Still Evolving? -- Leading Biochemist Says Recent Study of the Evolution of Human Genes is Not Evidence for Human Evolution

To National Desk

Contact: Kathleen Campbell, Campbell Public Relations, 877-540-6022.

NEWS ADVISORY, Mar. 9 2006, /Christian Wire Service/ -- Geneticists from the University of Chicago detected hundreds of regions in the human genome that have been influenced by natural selection over the last 15,000 years. These regions contain genes for taste, smell, digestion, skeletal structure and skin color. But is this recent study of the evolution of human genes evidence for human evolution?

“Recent headlines announcing that humans are still evolving should not be misinterpreted as evidence that we are on a continuous evolutionary journey and are gradually developing into a new species,” says renowned biochemist Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana, PhD.

“Nor does it support the naturalistic theory that modern humans emerged from ape-like ancestors over the course of the last 6 million years.”

Dr. Rana and a host of other scientists agree that the recent data merely indicate that humans have adapted to new environments and dietary changes as they migrated around the world over the last 40,000 years.

“This new research simply shows,” continues Rana, “that humans adopted a sedentary, agricultural-based lifestyle beginning about 12,000 years ago. It is not a basis for argument that naturalist theory of biological evolution can now be presented as a proven fact.”

Dr. Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana is the author of the Amazon.com bestseller, Who Was Adam: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man, a scientific and biblical examination of human origins.

In Who Was Adam, Dr. Rana details a number of recent scientific discoveries that challenge the notion of human evolution.

“Genetic studies indicate that Neanderthals and Homo erectus, long regarded as key transitional intermediates, cannot be part of the human evolutionary pathway,” says Rana.

“In fact, new DNA findings strongly support emerging scientific evidence that modern humans appeared on Earth only thousands of years ago, not millions of years ago as espoused by traditional human evolutionary models.”

According to Dr. Rana, a recognized expert in origin of life research, genetic diversity patterns of people groups around the world indicate that modern humans exploded on the scene recently from a small population in a single location at or near where theologians conclude the Garden of Eden might have been.

“In light of the biblical account of human origins, it’s fascinating that modern science supports the fact that humanity traces back, genetically speaking, to a single man and single woman.”

About the Author

Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana, Ph.D.—Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana attended West Virginia State College then Ohio University where he earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry. After completing postdoctoral fellowships at the universities of Virginia and Georgia, he worked for seven years in product development research for Procter & Gamble.

Prior to joining the scholar team at Reasons To Believe in 1999, he published more than 15 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and made more than 20 presentations at international scientific meetings. Dr. Rana also co-authored a chapter on antimicrobial peptides for Biological and Synthetic Membranes and he holds one patent.

Since joining Reasons To Believe he has chaired three conferences, written two books, Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off and Who Was Adam: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man, (with Hugh Ross Ph.D.) Dr. Rana has published numerous articles on the apologetic significance of recent discoveries in the life sciences. He appears each week on the live Web broadcast, Creation Update, teaches classes at his church, and is a highly popular and frequent guest on Christian and secular radio and television programs.

Reasons To Believe (www.reasons.org) is currently celebrating its 20TH Anniversary. Founded in 1986 by renowned astrophysicist Hugh Ross, Ph.D., Reasons To Believe is unique in its position of demonstrating that science and the Bible complement one another. The mission of Reasons To Believe is to remove the doubts of skeptics, strengthen the faith of believers, and offer solid answers to questions about God and science.

Reasons To Believe provides resources that will keep you informed about up-to-the minute discoveries in the sciences and how they actually harmonize with God’s revelation in the words of the Bible. It is our conviction that since the same God who ‘authored’ the universe also inspired the writings of Scripture, a consistent message will come from both revelations. In other words, the facts of nature will agree with, not contradict, the Bible. Recent scientific discoveries support this now more than at any other time in history.

ATTN MEDIA: To receive a media kit with more information and to schedule an interview contact Kathleen Campbell; Campbell Public Relations, LLC; 877-540-6022.