An Army of Orphan Genes Plagues Evolutionary Theory
In recent years a great host of orphans has descended on the camp of the Darwinists—not a human army but an army of genetic code known colloquially as orphan genes, or more technically as taxonomically restricted genes (TRGs).1 Evolutionary theory led evolutionists to expect such genes to be rare. As it turns out, they aren’t.
Genes are strings of DNA, many of which code for different kinds of proteins. Proteins come in thousands of different shapes and sizes and comprise a diverse kit of micro-miniature machines and other tools essential for life. DNA is “written” using a four-character alphabet (analogous to the way English text is written using a 26-letter alphabet). Some...
PhD, is Executive Editor of Discovery Institute Press and a Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. He is the author or coauthor of numerous works, including Intelligent Design Uncensored, The Hobbit Party, A Meaningful World, and the new intelligent design young-adult novel The Farm at the Center of the Universe with astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez.
Get Salvo in your inbox! This article originally appeared in Salvo, Issue #72, Spring 2025 Copyright © 2025 Salvo | www.salvomag.com https://salvomag.com/article/salvo72/darwins-orphan-nemesis
