Lego DNA
I know, I know, it’s Summer and the last thing you want to do is more “school work.” But the past two weeks of Creation Today Shows’ interviews with Jay Seegert of the Creation Education Center have been so amazing I had to figure out a way to inspire you to watch or listen to them. So I decided to write up a study guide. I promise, once you’ve listened and answered the questions, you will know more about DNA than the vast majority of people out there without crossing your eyes (just blowing your brain)!
Here’s your assignment Part 1: Listen to this episode of Creation Today Show: Is Evolution Probable or Problematic? and fill in the blanks.
- Evolution requires lots of _____________ and ________________ to explain how living things came to be
- Mutations happen when something changes in a creature’s ________
BTW I wasn’t able to find how much DNA is in a teaspoon, or if this is the amount in one person or many. Turns out a single cell holds over 5ft [1.5m] or some say as much as 3m [nearly 10ft]! So, the DNA in a single adult would reach if stretched out end to end. It would stretch to the __________ and back ___________ times (or around the ________ 2.5 million times)!
- How is DNA like this phrase, “was it a rat I saw?” _______________
- How is DNA more complicated than a palindrome?___________________________
- Is this something that is easily and naturally done? Can computer whizzes do it? ______
The analogy he gives here is especially enlightening. Share with someone in your own words…
- Is a mutation likely to add helpful meaning to this?____ Why? _________
- How long are DNA reversing codes? A. a single word B. a sentence C. a paragraph D. a chapter E. more than a chapter
DNA (Photo credit: Allen Gathman)
This has already started to show you how good God is at making “secret” codes. Now we’re really going to see how amazing His code system is!How is DNA like some Wheel of Fortune puzzles? ____________. If you don’t know Wheel of Fortune, they spell out phrases like Jay Seegert does at this point. If you like brain quizzes, HERE’s a set of these type of puzzles to try to solve.
OK, you can skip the last couple of minutes since it’s just closing notes.
Now on to Part 2 More DNA evidence for special creation, problems for evolution! (You can skip the first 6 minutes if you want)
- Next level of “secret” codes in DNA: ________ bits of DNA and ________ing them together to get new info
- How big are the sections that get spliced? Whole ________ and __________
- Another level of information picks up pieces at regular intervals and forms ___________
- What do mutations do to this coding system? _________________ Is this helpful? _____
Now we’re getting to real FBI stuff!
- DNA includes data _____________________ to add more info
Here’s a whole different way of looking at the complexity of DNA
- How long did it take you to learn to read English? Did it happen randomly without any teachers? DNA uses symbols to represent real things much like our alphabet (although God only needed 4 letters to do it!)
- DNA not only has an alphabet, it also forms words using ____________ rules much like we have to study!
Back to the data encryption:
- To solve an encryption puzzle, you have to have the _______
- Is this possible without a programmer?
Now you know more about DNA than most _____________. Who are they putting their faith in? ___________________
(I don’t know about you, but I love their Genesis Series ad!! Way cool stuff!)
Four-way DNA junction
- The Third level of information has to be read in __ __ (you can make a sample like this by following Wikihow’s instructions, writing a code on the finished shape and then unfolding it!)
- There’s a backup system of info in the Cell _______ that double checks what comes out of the nucleus to make sure things match up so if something changes
- If our DNA actually was only 2% different from a Chimp (it’s really way more than that), how many “spelling errors” would it take to produce a human being? ____________
- These changes would fill _________ books of _____ pages each!
Wow! I don’t know about you but this makes me want to get up and sing to our Super-Smart Creator God!!
We’re learning more about the 3D nature of DNA all the time. Here’s an article from ICR on discoveries reported in 2013: New Twist in DNA Turns Heads, Genes
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of your majesty, and of your wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of your terrible acts: and I will declare your greatness. Psalm 145:3-6
Don’t miss today’s Quotes and more!
4 Comments
Cheri-CreationScience4Kids · at
You’re very kind! A lot of times I wonder if words on a page can be as friendly as I mean them to be, thanks for the encouragement.
Until your comment, I’d kind of wondered if this was the wrong approach to use on a blog. It’s a lot more work for the reader to have to fill in the blanks! You’re right, though, the reason it was this topic I chose was because DNA is so powerful a witness to its Designer. I’ll keep an eye out for other posts to use this style on. 🙂
BibleScienceGuy · at
These are very interesting and informative online videos that you’ve linked to from Creation Today. I enjoyed watching them. And thanks for this learning tool you’ve prepared to help kids assimilate the information in the videos.
Cheri-CreationScience4Kids · at
I’m glad you liked it! This post is the only one I’ve done as a “school assignment.” You’re the first to say anything about the format, so I appreciate it. 🙂
BibleScienceGuy · at
I think your learning tool in this post is VERY useful. It will greatly increase retention of the material by those who complete the blanks. I’m having several of my kids use it to help them grasp the complexity (and glory) of the Almighty’s DNA code.
I suggest you continue to post learning exercises of various types as appropriate and as time permits. This would fill a glaring gap, as I’m not aware of other websites doing this sort of thing to help children and students process and assimilate material. You could also build learning exercises for different age levels depending on the material you’re covering. It’s also an idea you could incorporate in your book — various interesting learning reinforcement exercises. If you can get people to actively engage with what you’re presenting, they will learn and retain much better.
Keep up the good work with your website. You have a fresh, interesting, and appealing approach.
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