Geneticist Fired for Saying Humans Lived 900+ Years in Pre-flood Days

The head of a “prestigious genetics institute,” Alexander Kudryavtsev, gave a presentation last year where he reportedly stated that “humans lived for approximately 900 years before the Biblical Flood era and attributed the shortened lifespans of modern humans to ‘original, ancestral, and personal sins,’ causing genetic diseases.” In other words, “He claimed sin was the cause of mutations in genetic diseases harming modern man.” That’s basically what we would say at Answers in Genesis. But for these statements he was reportedly fired from his position.

Now, without his entire presentation, we don’t know exactly what he said and the context in which he said it, but it is indeed because of sin that mankind has shortened lifespans. You see, we were designed by God to live forever in a “very good” creation (Genesis 1:31), free from death, suffering, disease, and pain. But Adam rebelled against God, and the penalty for sin is death. That’s why we read, “Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.” Those 930 years are nothing compared to the eternity we were designed for!

After the flood, lifespans began to decrease—likely due in large part to genetic causes.

After the flood, lifespans began to decrease—likely due in large part to genetic causes (you can read more about that in this free chapter from The New Answers Book 2)—until, by the time of Moses, 70–80 years was the norm as per Psalm 90:10 (though Moses himself lived to be 120 and his successor, Joshua, lived to be 110).

But even though we all will physically die here on earth because of sin, our souls will continue on for eternity. And we will either spend eternity in heaven with perfectly restored bodies, worshipping and serving our Creator, or we will spend eternity separated from God in hell. For those who have put their faith and trust in Christ, turning from their sin, their future is heaven. But for those who have rejected Christ’s free offer of salvation, their eternal destination is hell, which the Bible calls “the second death.” If you have not put your faith in Christ, turn to him today!

Get More Answers on Answers News

This item was discussed yesterday on Answers News with cohosts Dr. Tim Chaffey, Patricia Engler, and Avery Foley. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum, broadcast on our Answers in Genesis YouTube channel, and posted to Answers TV. We also covered the following topics:

• Are humans special? Neil DeGrasse Tyson weighs in.
• What are “wrongful birth” lawsuits?
• Did this bird evolve twice?
• And more!

Be sure to join us each Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET) on YouTube or later that day on Answers TV for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.