The Age Of The Human Race
Author: Rob VandeWeghe
Through the last decades science has struggled to estimate the
age of the human race. Obviously, evolution would insist this
occurred a long time ago, as it would take an incredible span of
time for the first human-like creature (the cave man or monkey
man) to develop into the sophisticated humans of today.
First, it must be observed that current estimates for the age
of mankind are still all over the board. The lack of reliable
dating methods for organic material is a serious challenge for
all paleo-anthropologists. This might surprise you, but the only
reliable dating method for organic material is Carbon-14 dating.
This procedure can date organic material such as bones and teeth
accurately but only to a maximum of 25,000-30,000 years. Dating
older organic material is nothing more than guesswork. In many
cases these guesses rely on "leap of faith" assumptions by
dating the rocks found near the organic material in question,
wildly asserting these rocks were formed at the same time as the
bones/skull/teeth were deposited. Obviously that is not science,
but only wishful thinking.
Recently the advance of genetics has opened a new pathway to
estimate the age of mankind through the analysis of human
organic material. By comparing samples of currently living
humans with well dated DNA samples from the past, an estimate
can be made for the rate the human DNA record changes. Applying
this estimated natural mutation rate to a representative
sampling of the DNA of today's world population, allows to
estimate how much time would be required for today's human DNA
to mutate ("deteriorate") from a common ancestor. As every cell
in the human body contains the combined DNA from both the father
and the mother, analyzing this DNA would not allow to trace the
separate ancestry of the male or female. However, two portions
of human genetic material do not recombine in reproduction,
namely:
1) Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) This DNA resides in the so called
mitochondria structures, outside the cell's nucleus.
Mitochondria are the "cellular power plants." They convert food
molecules into energy. Mitochondria contain DNA that is
independent of the DNA in the chromosomes that is stored in the
cell nucleus. Both men and women get nearly all of their mtDNA
only from their mother. In the late 1980s and early 1990s a
number of studies examined the mtDNA of women all over the
world. These concluded that all women descended from one "Eve"
who lived within the last 200,000 years. Refinements in
measurements lowered these original estimates to 135,000 years
and finally to less than 100,000 years. These studies not only
suggest a much younger age for humanity than previously assumed,
but also indicate that all humans descend from ONE woman, ruling
out that humans would have simultaneously evolved in multiple
locations/regions.
2) A large segment of the Y-chromosome. Only men have a
Y-chromosome, most of which they receive only from their father.
Since 1995 studies have been conducted to trace genes on this
Y-chromosome to determine the age and descent of males. Various
studies all indicate younger ages for mankind. What may well be
the most reliable study published so far, calculates a common
ancestor to modern man at between 37,000 and 49,000 years ago.
These studies also indicate that genetically all humans are
much more alike than one would predict from Darwinian theory.
Examinations of the genetic sequences of diverse modern human
populations reveal minor differences, if any at all. One
scientist noted: "It's a mystery none of us can explain." All
this evidence suggests a recent origin for modern humans, far
more recent than evolutionary theory would allow.
Evidence from archaeology and anthropology is consistent with
such estimates for the age of humanity. Sophisticated works of
art first appear about 40,000-50,000 years ago, and evidence of
religious relics and altars date back no earlier than 25,000
years.
Archaeological finds of leftovers of human habitation date back
only 15,000 years ago. Claims for older finds are rarely
presented.
Accounts in the Biblical book of Genesis mention the
descendents from the first man, Adam, through Noah, Abraham and
Moses. Based on the literal reading of this data, it can be
calculated that Adam was created by God a little over 6,000
years ago. This is also the date claimed by Six Day Creationists
for the actual creation of the world. Other scholars point out
the common practice of ancient Hebrew culture to skip
generations in the genealogical records. Thus it is conceivable
there were substantially more generations between Adam and
Abraham than recorded in Genesis. These scholars generally
theorize that, based on these records, Adam and Eve could have
lived 8,000 to even 25,000 years ago. These views are the basis
of the suggested range of 6,000 to 25,000 years old for the age
of mankind. These Biblical estimates are surprisingly consistent
with those supported by archaeology.
Whichever way one looks at the data, one conclusion is
inescapable: as time progresses, estimates from science come
ever closer to the age inferred by the Biblical accounts
About The Author: Rob VandeWeghe is a sceptic turned Christian.
Rob's book `Prepared to Answer' and more evidences for
Christianity are available at http://www.windmillministries
Read more about evidences for God's existence at
http://www.windmillministries
