Jan 22 2010
The Creation of Gene Variants: Good with the Bad
As I argued in the post, Fun Science Fact: An Upside to Down Syndrome, sometimes (often?) a genetic abnormality brings some good with the bad. Research recently published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has found that gene variants associated with schizophrenia — bad — provide a diminished cancer risk — good.
People who inherit a specific form of a gene that puts them on a road to schizophrenia may be protected against some forms of cancer, according to a new study by scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. [source]
Interesting. It should be noted that the research itself seemed solid. Kudos for that. For example:
The authors were able to replicate their findings in a second sample of 107 patients and 112 healthy volunteers. “The results add to the growing evidence suggesting an intriguing relationship between cancer-related genes and schizophrenia susceptibility,” the scientists wrote. [bold added]
The numbers aren’t great, but the replication part is a big plus.
As I pointed out in A Link Between Creativity and Insanity there may also be another benefit, a social “sunny-side” that partly balances the individual darkness that those suffering from schizophrenia face, to the disorder.
To me the above is yet more evidence that the theory of evolution nicely explains what we are discovering about the tangled web of life. Why is there schizophrenia? Why haven’t the gene variants for full-blow cases been trimmed from existence by natural selection? It may be that those variants, in particular combinations or in association with other factors, aren’t all bad. And they may even bring some good.
Try to explain the above with a Creationist perspective and it is difficult not to conclude that not only did/does the Creator have a mean streak (Down Syndrome and schizophrenia — why include those in creation?), but he does sloppy work as well. Mixing the good and bad together like that . . . .
Of course, Creationists could argue the schizophrenia finding away in one of two ways: 1) the science is wrong, schizophrenia is actually caused by sin and satan, and/or 2) Gawd creates in mysterious ways, and we just don’t understand the intelligence of a design for humans that includes a significant proportion of the population being afflicted by a very troubling mental illness.
Science is fascinating and powerful. But don’t look to it for simple answers. Try religion instead.
