Who Was Adam

A review of this new book for those interested. ~ Janice

Who Was Adam?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1576835774/102-3001268-1793726?v=glance&n=283155&tagActionCode=savedbygracemini

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Excellent review of the current scientific literature, October 3, 2005
Reviewer:
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/cm/member-glance/-/A3FCLOKYEQFFWX/1/ref=cm_cr_auth/102-3001268-1793726?%5Fencoding=UTF8>Richard
L. Deem "Rich Deem" (Los Angeles, CA USA) -
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A3FCLOKYEQFFWX/ref=cm_cr_auth/102-3001268-1793726?%5Fencoding=UTF8>See
all my reviews

Are humans just advanced apes or have they been specially created in the
image of God? Publications by scientists almost never ask the question,
whereas publications by theists seldom examine the scientific data that
relates to the question.

However, two scientists raised in non-Christian homes, Fuz Rana (Ph.D. in
chemistry) and Hugh Ross (Ph.D. in astronomy), have written a new book (Who
Was Adam?: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man) that examines
the question of human origins by comparing biblical and evolutionary models.

The second in a series of books designed to produce a comprehensive
biblical creation model, Reasons To Believe scholars, Rana and Ross present
a biblical creation model that makes 13 specific predictions on the nature
and origin of mankind, then go on to examine the evidence published in the
latest scientific studies.

One example from the biblical creation model is the predicted discrepancy
between the origin dates for male and female genetic lines. The Bible
claims that there was a genetic bottleneck at the Genesis flood. Whereas
all females can trace their ancestry back to Eve (through the three wives
of Noah's sons), all males trace their Y-chromosomes through Noah (through
his three sons).

This predicted discrepancy for molecular dates of mitochondrial DNA and
Y-chromosome data is actually seen in the scientific literature. In
addition to the mtDNA and Y-chromosome data, Who Was Adam? examines
molecular dates from nuclear genes, numerous varieties of non-coding
genetic elements, and human parasites. All these data confirm a recent
origin date for Homo sapiens sapiens.

Other chapters examine the hominid fossil record as it relates to specific
evolutionary models compared to the biblical creation model. Chapter 5
examines the question whether we can detect the image of God in modern
humans that differentiates them from hominids in the fossil record.
Specific hominid species are examined in detail, including Homo erectus,
Homo neandertalensis, and chimpanzees.

A chapter devoted to the development of bipedalism shows that the extensive
changes required for this form of locomotion appeared in early hominids,
with no apparent selective Darwinian driving force. An examination of
hominid brain sizes shows no gradual increases within species, but large
jumps as new species appeared on the scene.

Opponents of the idea that humans are intelligently designed often point to
the presence of "junk" (non-coding) DNA in the genomes of both apes and
humans. Chapter 14 examines the most recent evidence that shows that
non-coding DNA is certainly not junk, but provides vital regulatory
functions for coding genes.

One chapter stands out as being somewhat out of place in a book on human
origins. Chapter 6, "The best possible time" examines the timing of the
appearance on humans in the context of the history of the universe and the
history of the earth. Although peripherally-related to the question of
intelligent design, it would seem to be more relevant to discussions of
cosmology and the anthropic principle.

Although the book seems to be marketed to Christians (from the title), it
will probably have more broad appeal within secular circles, since it does
present an excellent, up-to-date review of the current scientific
literature on human origins. Does a biblical creation model for human
origins present a scientifically-respectable alternative to neo-Darwinian
evolution? Read the book and make your own decision.