In yet another exciting instance of the Word of God being proven scientifically accurate, scientists in Switzerland and the United States have recently announced an amazing discovery. Senior Research Associate Mark Stoeckle and Research Associate David Thaler of the University of Basel, Switzerland have determined that all modern humans are descended from a common father and mother who appeared on the scene after a cataclysmic event almost wiped out the human race. This conclusion came after researchers studied the mitochondrial DNA that creates genetic “barcodes” from five million types of animals and humans. According to published reports in the journal Human Evolution, the research found that 90 percent of all animal species alive today come from parents who all began giving birth around the same time.
This Research Actually Supports the Biblical Model
When we, as believers, read this we instantly think of Adam and Eve or perhaps Noah and his wife whose children re-populated the earth after the cataclysmic flood that destroyed the rest of humanity. It is important to note; however, that the researchers believe in an evolutionary explanation and are not pointing to the biblical Adam and Eve, or even to Noah and his wife. In fact, they suppose that the common father and mother all humanity share should have lived 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. Nevertheless, this research is significant as it points to all humans having a common lineage that began after a major cataclysmic event – which is clearly taught in the Bible. Also, rather than support the evolutionary model, this research actually reveals that all animal life on earth falls into distinct, widely separated groups – what the Bible describes as "kinds," from the Hebrew word "min" and did not evolve over a series of small changes. In fact, The Daily Mail reports that these new findings cast a shadow of doubt on the theory of evolution currently accepted by much of the scientific community.
Relevant Biblical Passages
Whenever I read of a new discovery that supports the teaching of Scripture I am reminded that the prophet Daniel was told to “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4 KJV). In this verse, we learn that as the end times approach human knowledge shall increase, and this includes humanity’s knowledge about the Word of God. In fact, the Hebrew, the word for “knowledge” in this verse is haddaʿat, literally, “the knowledge.” Similarly, the words for “many shall run to and fro” can also be translated as “many shall investigate.” Likewise, some Bible scholars consider the sentence as referring to the eyes of a reader running “to and fro” in reading the Word of God (cf. 2Chronicals 16:9). What a blessing it would be if people are drawn to read the Word of God as a result of this recent discovery of DNA evidence that supports biblical teaching.