One Tiny Flaw, and 50 Years Lost!

HGPS, commonly called “progeria,” causes premature aging in children, affecting only about one in six million children. It causes skin to age, heads to go bald at a very early age (prekindergarten), bones to develop problems usually associated with the elderly, and growth to be stunted (about half to two-thirds of normal height for their age). Body parts, including organs, age rapidly, causing death at the average age of 13 years.1

A single point mutation in the DNA causes progeria—just one flaw.2^,3 This defect is a sobering reminder about the importance of the amazing ability of the human DNA strand to reproduce itself virtually error-free. Our DNA has a total of three billion base pairs, or “letters”, designed by God to build an entire human body. The DNA contains genes, which in turn are made up of an almost infinitely varied sequence of four molecules—cytosine (C), thymine (T), guanine (G) and adenine (A). Genes code for particular proteins such as keratin, which comprises our hair, or the amylase enzyme in your saliva that is digesting the starch you ate recently. A typical gene has a total of a thousand or more of the four “letters”, C, T, G and A.

According to the head of the National Human Genome Research Institute (USA), a single misplaced “letter” on the gene, which is known as Lamin A, or LMNA, causes progeria.4 A letter “T” has replaced a “C”. In other words, the substitution of one thymine with one cytosine in one specific gene results in a horrible disease that prematurely ages children. This single mistake indicates how finely tuned the DNA really is.

Our new understanding of progeria gives major support to the belief that there is a genetic link to aging. Early patriarchs in the Bible lived well beyond what we would consider normal. Many of them lived over 900 years. Then, in the years following Noah, the ages gradually fell. If one genetic mismatch can cut life short by a factor of 5–10 times, then could another defective gene be the culprit that shortened our average age from 900 years to the present 80 years or so (a factor of 11 times)?5

This terrible disease, which causes children to suffer, and drastically shortens their lifespans, reminds us of the Curse that we all struggle with in today’s world—the Curse of death and decay because of mankind’s sin.

Genesis 3 tells us about the origin of sin, death and struggle for survival. Romans 8:18–25 speaks to the suffering we now experience, and how the whole creation groans because of the Fall. This reminds us also of our need for the Saviour, Jesus Christ, to rescue us from our lost, fallen state. In Him we can have present hope and confidence regarding our future.

Seeing how only one mismatch can have such horrendous consequences, how can mutations be the means by which new kinds of life form? Humans supposedly evolved from a common ancestor with chimps. But humans and chimps differ by over 150 million DNA “letters”.6 How could mutations account for such a difference?

The information explosion in our understanding of the wonders of DNA reveals the incredible glory of our Creator. He deserves the glory for designing the amazing DNA structures. But the dreadful effects of mutations on DNA in this sin-cursed world remind us of our dependence on Him for life.

Progeria, an obvious result of the Curse, might also shed light on understanding the long lifespans of the patriarchs. Progeria also indicates that mutations cannot explain molecules-to-man evolution. Even the examples of rare beneficial mutations that evolutionists cite are heading in the wrong direction.7