DNA / RNA

In the beginning God created all things. He established the genetic code, reproductive systems and goodness. Environmental effects, even in siblings in a family, can result in very different character qualities.

One has said that we were all born to be geniuses, but some of us have experienced damage that set us back in our quality of life and potential (Albert Einstein). You have an outward expression (phenotype), influenced partly by your genetic code or DNA (genotype), but equally by the environment that has a strong impact on your life.

Regardless of what you may have been taught in school, you were created in God’s likeness and have great potential. At birth, God gave you the breath of life and you became a living soul with a spirit living in your body. God has brought you to the light of life and He has a purpose for your life.

God has given you the capacity to duplicate the strands of DNA in your body to reproduce after your own kind. For married couples, you are fulfilling God’s highest and best as you reproduce yourselves by birthing children. This is a commandment of God.

Purpose:
One is born with a certain genetic code, but the environment has a great effect on its expression. People may take on an appearance like they were created to be; however, decades of discouragement and hopelessness can drag a person down affecting them negatively and they do not end up as God intended them to be.

You and your staff are in the business of developing people. You cannot do anything about their genetic make-up; but effective leadership, love, compassion and care will create an environment that will cause them to flourish and become what they were created to be.

Order:
There is a rank and order of all things throughout the universe and in heaven. This order was set in place at the creation when order replaced chaos as the earth was shaped to be a fit dwelling place for all of God’s creation. All things were created for our use. God desired for us to live in this world, subdue it and reign over it.

Historical Facts about the Patriarchs:
Adam, the first human being was very intelligent, as God created him with incredible knowledge at the outset. We don’t usually think about the overlapping of the early men in the Bible:

  dam: 30 years

  eth: 12 years

  ethuselah: 69 years

  oah: 50 years

Thus, Adam lived to see Lamech (Noah’s father), in the ninth level of the genealogy. Seth, Adam’s son lived to see Enoch translated to glory; but he died shortly before the birth of Noah. He was still living when Jacob and Esau were born. Noah outlived Abram’s father, Nahor, and died when Abram was 60 years old. Shem, Noah’s son even outlived Abram.

From the time of Jacob it is quite easy to trace the 12 tribes of Israel. This is significant to confirm how God protected His chosen people. The Hebrews (Jews) are the only race that has been able to track its ancestral inheritance and to train successive generations in their faith, language and traditions. This was possible through both written documents and oral traditions as the Hebrews were faithful to their patriarchs, who were charged with training successive generations. It required highly successful, long-enduring marriages of couples who took seriously their purpose of birthing and rearing children.

The Role of the Patriarchs:
The elder generations served society as patriarchs with a key role of invoking blessing upon the people. The family name is honored through each generation as they train the next to maintain the honor associated with a long family lineage. Patriarchy reinforces traditions of extended families, churches and organizations since their experience becomes increasingly valuable, even as their role becomes largely advisory.

The Genotype:
The genotype is an inward expression of the inner make-up of the genes. The genes are formed from Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA is a molecule that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses.

The genetic information is encoded in a replicable sequence of nucleotides. These are:

  uanine

  denine

  hymine

  ytosine

These four nucleotides exist as a double stranded helix forming a coiling backbone for the GATC in all kinds of sequences. The DNA strand itself is resistant to cleavage; however, the duplicate strand as an exact replicate separates from its mate or origin to form a new exact gene. This is how genes are reproduced.

The specific established code from the replicating gene strand is brought about by the action of Ribonucleic acid (RNA). The RNA in turn transcribes the DNA into the new DNA strand as an exact replicate. This new strand then duplicates itself. The new DNA or helical strand (code) can form very long polymers, making a chromosome. Without RNA, cell duplication could not occur.

The chromosome is composed of a prescribed number of repeating DNA units (genes/GATC) with nearly infinite patterns. However, each gene replicates itself exactly. For example, the Number 1 human chromosome is approximately 220 million base pair long. This great capacity of forming the makeup of DNA strands is what causes virtually an indescribable variability in a genotype.

Remember that the genotype is the inward composition of who you are.

The Phenotype:
The phenotype is the total of the observable physical traits of an organism such as a human being. This is what you see. These characteristics are a result of the interaction of the genotype and environmental effects. Their phenotypic expressions are color, size, height, behavior, disposition, etc.

Phenotype = genotype + environment + random variation. For example, a person can be shorter because of being protein-starved during the formative years. Because of inadequate energy food, a certain person’s body can be very thin. A particular person has a certain appearance of obesity (phenotype.) She goes on a weight loss program and after losing 50-60 pounds you may need to look twice to determine who she is. It may be said, “Wow, she looks like a brand new person.” The phenotype changed, but the genotype remains the same as at birth.

How Genotype and Phenotype are Identified:
Your genotype is set for life at conception; however, you may have some control over what you look like as the decades go by. A person living in great hardship, depravity or oppression can have phenotypically-induced physical change when liberated from tyranny. This is like being born again and starting life anew under better circumstances. 

Aging and Telomeres:
In many cultures old age is revered and honored. This is true because experience adds value. However, where there is an overemphasis on sports and strength rather than wisdom, old age is seen as a handicap and without honor. Aging occurs as a process where telomeres are reduced each time a gene is replicated. The telomeres on the end of genes are like an eraser on the end of a pencil that wears down through use. 

Aging is an automatic process set in the genetic code. There is much research today seeking to rebuild the telomeres, to extend the length of life. 

Conclusion:
Experiences in life influence who we are, what we know and what we can do. Biblical culture values patriarchal roles highly. A life well-lived carries multi-generational values, history, identification and traditions of a family.

Today in Western Civilization, much of the value and traditions of a family’s continued existence has been systematically destroyed. Patriarchs and matriarchs are especially valued in passing on a commitment to faith and belief. As their values have been disregarded, we can see the decline of our culture.

These remarks are to help you and those you train as leaders to become all that you and they were created to be. Our ultimate ancestry is in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and therefore we have the capacity to develop their characteristics. May we be faithful and obedient to our calling!

Questions for Consideration: DNA / RNA

1. What is the role of the elder generation for your success in life?

2. What effect does discouragement have on your potential?

3. When was the order set in place that gives you the authority to subdue the earth and reign over it?

4. What effect does the reduction of telomeres have on the body?

5. Describe the value of long-enduring marriages on the culture.