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Creating Life in the Lab: How New Discoveries in Synthetic Biology Make a Case for the Creator
Each year brings to light new scientific discoveries that have the power to either test our faith or strengthen it--most recently the news that scientists have created artificial life forms in the laboratory. If humans can create life, what does that mean for the creation story found in Scripture?
Biochemist and Christian apologist Fazale Rana, for one, isn't worried. In Creating Life in the Lab, he details the fascinating quest for synthetic life and argues convincingly that when scientists succeed in creating life in the lab, they will unwittingly undermine the evolutionary explanation for the origin of life, demonstrating instead that undirected chemical processes cannot produce a living entity.
Biochemist and Christian apologist Fazale Rana, for one, isn't worried. In Creating Life in the Lab, he details the fascinating quest for synthetic life and argues convincingly that when scientists succeed in creating life in the lab, they will unwittingly undermine the evolutionary explanation for the origin of life, demonstrating instead that undirected chemical processes cannot produce a living entity.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2011
15 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Fazale Rana
26Ìýbooks57ÌýfollowersBiochemist Fazale “Fuzâ€� Rana is president, CEO, and senior scholar at Reasons to Believe, an organization that researches and communicates the compatibility of science and Christianity.
Rana earned a BS in chemistry with highest honors (West Virginia State College) and a PhD in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry (Ohio University). He pursued postdoctoral studies on cell membranes at the Universities of Virginia and Georgia and worked as a senior scientist in research and development at Procter & Gamble for seven years. Additionally, Rana has been published in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and delivered numerous presentations at international scientific meetings. He also holds two patents.
Rana’s books include Humans 2.0, Creating Life in the Lab, and Fit for a Purpose. He has addressed hundreds of university, church, and conference audiences around the world. Rana has also made numerous media appearances on television, radio, and in print.
Rana earned a BS in chemistry with highest honors (West Virginia State College) and a PhD in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry (Ohio University). He pursued postdoctoral studies on cell membranes at the Universities of Virginia and Georgia and worked as a senior scientist in research and development at Procter & Gamble for seven years. Additionally, Rana has been published in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals and delivered numerous presentations at international scientific meetings. He also holds two patents.
Rana’s books include Humans 2.0, Creating Life in the Lab, and Fit for a Purpose. He has addressed hundreds of university, church, and conference audiences around the world. Rana has also made numerous media appearances on television, radio, and in print.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 23, 2013
The premise of this book alone is breathtaking as an exercise in flawed logic. It is the epitome of the "God of the Gaps" approach to theological debate.
Lets boil the main point of the book down to its essence:
"Biology is hard, and I as author doubt that you have read much about it. Therefore, I am going to throw some very impressive-sounding numbers and tell you that it took lots of effort for some really smart scientists to 'make life' in a lab. Also, they did just start seriously doing this synthetic biology work, like, almost a decade ago guys, and they STILL haven't figured all of life out!
Therefore: there must have been an intelligent designer at the start of life itself."
Lets boil the main point of the book down to its essence:
"Biology is hard, and I as author doubt that you have read much about it. Therefore, I am going to throw some very impressive-sounding numbers and tell you that it took lots of effort for some really smart scientists to 'make life' in a lab. Also, they did just start seriously doing this synthetic biology work, like, almost a decade ago guys, and they STILL haven't figured all of life out!
Therefore: there must have been an intelligent designer at the start of life itself."
April 24, 2013
This book provides a comprehensive look at research into origin of life scenarios, providing background and over view of the various approaches examined by scientists over the years. The author also provides helpful analysis of the implications of the research.
There's a lot of microbiology in the book, so its helps to have some interest and understanding of the subject if you want to read this book.
There's a lot of microbiology in the book, so its helps to have some interest and understanding of the subject if you want to read this book.
January 23, 2024
Another very good read from Fazale Rana. If you are interested in the creation of life and the existence of our Creator then this is an author who's writings are worth reading.
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September 26, 2012Old argument(s) new-ish context. Yawn.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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