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become. There is a school of thought of personal responsibility. Each human Coming back to DNA, I often refer
which supposes that human beings are being can develop, often to a great during my lectures to the Nobel laureate
the victims, so to say, of their DNA, and degree, a sense of charge over one's own Francis Collins, the head of the Human
that DNA content is the primary force self. This helps a person to take steps that Genome Project, who is a committed
that moulds the nature and character of go to form and mould his character and believer. He tackles the issue of the
an individual. It's all in the genes, they personality. One's own decisions do complexity of the DNA molecule, and the
say, and nothing can change this. When I matter in determining the type of person marvel of how it can store and replicate
put forward this line of thinking to the one turns out to be. Wrong decisions genetic information. He once ended a
students, there may often be some shape our character for the worse, while prestigious lecture on DNA by taking up
feeling of dismay among many of them. good and wise actions shape our his guitar and singing the hymn “How
After all, some scientists have linked character for the better. By assuming great Thou art!”, thus testifying to his
certain genes in humans to undesirable responsibility over our own selves, we faith in the Creator God who designed
traits like schizoid personality, psycho- can face the challenge of the laws of and formed DNA. The chances that such
pathy and even alcoholism. For some genetics, and also confront the issues a complex entity as life itself, with the
people, this may ring of fatalism and a that our upbringing and environment wonder of DNA, could have all come into
passive surrender to a destiny predeter- have imposed upon us. Such an attitude existence by itself are indeed infini-
mined by one's own DNA. can go a long way to enable us to grow tesimally small. This is freely acknow-
As a university faculty, I have taught and develop as individuals along life's ledged even by unbelievers.
organic chemistry for decades to M.Sc. It is then that I remind my students pathway. I do hope that incorporating
students, using the direct classroom that environment is a factor one cannot such ideas in the course of my teaching The handiwork of God, present
teaching mode (before the pandemic ignore. This is related to the old question chemistry has given some element of clearly in His creation, reflects His glory
necessitated online teaching). I have of nature versus nurture. There is no hope to the learners, and has challenged (Ps 19:1). It is all a matter of what
sometimes found opportunities to doubt that loving parents and wise them to rise above the despair of pure attitude we adopt when faced with all
communicate elements of the theistic upbringing make a powerful impact on determinism. this evidence. Even a humble platform
worldview (without any imposition) into the formation of good character. The like a chemistry classroom can be a place
my teaching, especially with reference to things that we experience in the course This is contrary to the philosophy of where the evidence presented can point
biochemistry and molecular biology. of life, whether good or bad, are bound materialistic reductionism, which redu- one to God. If materialistic atheism is a
Being present before the students, and to have an impact upon our life and ces the human person to a mere preconceived axiom to which one
observing their reactions, it is possible to personality. It is a sad fact that traumatic machine without a soul or will of his decides to cling, the whole of life will
sense their deep interest in the events, especially early in life, can affect own. There are scientists who argue that turn out to be a matter of “pointless
mysteries of life itself. I have no idea if a person's life and outlook in a very the thoughts we think, the emotions we indifference” (Richard Dawkins). How-
there are any atheists among them, but negative way. It is known that epigenetic feel, and even the decisions we make are ever, if we are open to the concept of a
if so, one does hope that my humble events (external to DNA) are involved in nothing more than molecules moving sovereign Creator, whose glory is evident
presentations would lead them to think the life of even a single cell at the around in our brains. Such a bleak in the universe and in all life, this can lead
matters over. To be sure, these consider- molecular level. How much more do concept completely dehumanises us and us on to greater light, and finally bring
ations go beyond mere molecules and events around us interact with our robs life of all meaning. Yet, there is, so to the true meaning of life to our hearts.
chemical reactions to extend to biology, psyche, with all its complexities through say, a “ghost in the machine”, where we The choice is ours to freely make.
psychology, philosophy, and even childhood and adolescence, and stamp are in fact greater than the sum of all our
questions regarding the meaning of life. themselves upon our lives and person- parts. As conscious beings, our consc-
alities! iousness goes beyond mere physical and
DNA is the key macromolecule of all chemical processes, particularly when it
life. When teaching about DNA and its And yet – is that all there is to it? comes to consciousness of one's own
role for the continuation and shaping of Do nature (i.e., DNA) and nurture self. This self-consciousness is a
life, I have raised the question of to what (environment and upbringing) have the distinctive shared by all humans, and by Dr. R. H. Duncan Lyngdoh
extent the DNA content of our cells goes last word as to the kind of person we nothing else in this universe. Professor, Department of Chemistry
to determine the type of person we are? Here it is that I bring up the element North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, Meghalaya
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