“DNA is like a computer program but far, far more advanced than any software ever created.”
A syllogism is a helpful little tool used in logic composed of three statements. It takes place when the first two premises produce an inescapable conclusion (third statement). For example, if all men are tall, and John is a man, then it inevitably follows that John is tall. Now obviously not all men are tall, so despite the preciseness of the logic, syllogisms are essentially useless unless the premises are true. However If the premises are true then we can have confidence that the conclusion is one worth trusting in. Many syllogisms have been offered to provide proof for the existence of God, but here is one that’s based on simple, empirical evidence.
1. All living things contain coded information within their DNA.
2. This phenomenon can only be derived from intelligence.
3. Therefore, all living things are derived from a source of intelligence.
This sounds slightly technical at first, so here’s the breakdown.
1. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the structure within all living cells that carry the genetic information used reproduce and maintain life. It is a code, or set of instructions, that operates according to the same principles used in quantifying information within language, software etc. DNA contains four characters that, when combined differently, forms the instructions for creating different proteins. Just as in binary code, two characters, 1 and 0, can create numerous different larger characters i.e.011011 or 101010, so these four characters are used to code for all the instructions that create life. The kind of information apparent in DNA not only has the capacity to carry information (random characters with no meaning) but actually does carry messages intended for function.
2. There are no other known causes for this kind of information, nature can create things which are ordered and complex, like crystals and snowflakes, but information by its very nature can only be created by mind, or intelligence. This is because by it’s very nature, coded information is structured to communicate messages through symbols. In the words of Werner Gitt, one of Germany’s top engineers and information theorists, “there is no known natural law, sequence of events, physical process, or material phenomenon through which matter can give rise to information … Information only arises through an intentional, volitional act” Gitt explains very plainly that biological information not only qualifies as information in the above sense, but exceeds it beyond anything humanity has ever produced.
3. If the two preceding premises are both correct, something which nobody has reasonably disputed, then we can conclusively deduct the truth that all of life is derived from a source of intelligence.
If we discovered this kind of information in anything other than biology, it would be accepted as evidence of mind without much fuss. Stephen C. Meyer, a philosopher of science out of Cambridge University, details how even SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) researchers with NASA set the bar much lower for their experiments. But because the code within DNA clearly implies a Creator and crushes the materialist/Darwinist standard framework for biology, people tend to evade the obvious. But then again, the Bible says we as humans are fairly good at repressing evidence for God in pursuit of our own pleasures.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1:18-20.