In the Beginning, Man Created?

Craig Venter is a biologist and an entrepreneur. For the last 15 years, his company has been working on creating life. He claims to have succeeded.

By identifying the DNA of a tiny bacterium, he separated out the genes to see how it was formed. Then he substituted the genes with synthetic ones, until he had the first synthetic genome- and his claim that he has created life.

But let’s just remember a few things….

-He replaced the living genes with others created by him. But did he create from nothing? Of course not. He used ‘inanimate objects’ to create the gene. The ‘objects’, effectively DNA designed from scratch, are still ‘objects’.

-He’s an inventor and biologist. He learned this skill. He was born, went to school, and learned his trade. He didn’t come from nowhere. He was ‘created’ like everybody else. As a created being, he is, at best, copying his creator.

-He has not created life, only copied it. By following God’s instructions – the picture of the DNA, the structure of the genes- he has been able to mimic the original. But is that very different from us, say, painting the picture of a flower, copying the original? Sure this new synthetic bug has life- but it is a copied life. All very clever. But still a copy.

In the beginning man created? No. In the beginning God created. We have the privilege of discovery, of learning, and even of copying life. But creation is God’s prerogative and His alone.

Just Been Volcanoed.....

Has this ash cloud got it in for me or what?

I was in Dublin last week for a pensions meeting. By the time it finished…. no planes, due to the ash cloud…. again. Having already been stranded in Cape Town for a week, it was getting a bit repetitive. Not that I got any sympathy from workmates. They just laughed!

This time, I escaped by ferry to Hollyhead. From there, after a short stay in a B&B, on to the Euston train the next morning, and finally home.

Remember those TV adds for Tango? This big orange bloke used to come up behind a poor unsuspecting lad (called Ralph, no less!) and slap him around the face to the announcement that he’d ‘ just been tangoed’.

Well this Ralph is a bit fed up of just being ‘volcanoed’, and is planning not to travel too far from home!

Dear Gordon (3)

Why so negative? Your little temper tantrum with the Rochdale lady pretty well typifies your campaign. Criticise anyone who seems difficult. Slam the opposition. Create fear. Bully the electorate.

But there was so much to be positive about. The Labour governments record is a good one. And you were part of that success. Why so little reference? Afraid it points to your predecessor and not you maybe?

Seems to me its fear of failure that has driven you. Fear of letting go of power. That’s why you took the enormous gamble of the televised debates. Good for democracy. Not so good for you though.

Well, we’re there now. I’m a Labour voter. But not this time. I don’t react well to scaremongering. I don’t like bullies. There’s an Independent standing in our constituency. A local man, with a good local agenda. Time for a protest vote.