Religion and science<\/a> in general have a complicated relationship. In particular, conservative factions within the Abrahamic religions \u2014 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam \u2014 have sometimes clashed with science. Most of us have heard about the Catholic Church\u2019s objections to the model of the solar system proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus (1473\u20131543). Note that these objections have evaporated. Indeed, the Catholic Church these days is very proud of Monsignor Georges Lema\u00eetre<\/a> (1894-1966), a priest and physicist who proposed the Big Bang theory. But elsewhere in Christianity many heels are dug in against accepting evolution.<\/p>\n Nearly all of the religious commentary on DNA that I could find was from Christians who have embraced DNA as proof of God\u2019s creating hand. See, for example, \u201cHow DNA Reveals God\u2019s Design<\/a>\u201d by Dr. Alan Gillen, a professor of biology at Liberty University<\/a>. Liberty is the private evangelical university in Lynchburg, Virginia, founded by Jerry Falwell, Sr. The article is hosted on a website called Answers in Genesis, an organization founded by the anti-evolution activist (and biblical literalist) Ken Ham<\/a>. Exactly why Ken Ham doesn\u2019t also see God\u2019s creating hand in the complex processes of evolution, I cannot say. You\u2019ll have to ask him. Note also that DNA provides compelling corroboration of evolution science; see \u201cHow DNA Confirms Evolutionary Relationships<\/a>\u201d in Science News Today<\/em> (August 5, 2025).<\/p>\n In recent years medicine has been using genetics in several ways. I found an article at the U.S. National Library of Medicine that provides a good overview. \u201cCurrent developments of gene therapy in human diseases<\/a>\u201d (2024 Aug 16) explains that gene therapy is being used to treat a wide range of genetic and acquired diseases. See also \u201cGenetic Testing and the Christian Faith: Navigating the Tension Responsibly<\/a>\u201d by Kelli Swan at Biologos (February 27, 2019). Swan is a genetics counselor and a Christian, and she explains in simple language how genetic medicine is enhancing people\u2019s lives.\u00a0 \u201cGod created us all with a unique genetic code and, as a genetic counselor, I love having even just a small glimpse into the complexity of life God designed,\u201d Swan writes. But she also notes that \u201cpeople who self-identify as Christian may be less likely to pursue genetic testing, especially in a prenatal context. \u2026\u00a0 Additionally, medical providers who identify as Christian may be less likely to offer genetic testing to their patients.\u201d This may indicate some discomfort with genetics.\u00a0Christians who oppose pregnancy termination may avoid genetic testing or genetic counseling. But Swan argues that even if you oppose abortion, knowledge that your baby will be born with a medical challenge can help you prepare.<\/p>\n One of the most prominent Christian advocates for genetics in medicine is the physician-scientist Francis Collins. Collins identified the genes connected to a number of diseases. He was director of the National Human Genome Research Institute<\/a> from 1993 to 2008 and director of the National Institutes of Health<\/a> from 2009 to 2021. He also authored a book, published in 2006, titled The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief<\/em>. \u201cThe God of the Bible is also the God of the genome,\u201d Collins writes. \u201cHe can be worshipped in the cathedral or in the laboratory. His creation is majestic, awesome, intricate and beautiful\u2014and it cannot be at war with itself. Only we imperfect humans can start such battles. And only we can end them.\u201d Collins also makes an argument for theistic evolution, which is the position that \u201cevolution is real, but that it was set in motion by God\u201d and is under the direction of God.<\/p>\n Much current theology draws a line between therapeutic and enhancing gene editing. In 2002 the Vatican proposed that \u201cGerm line genetic engineering with a therapeutic goal in man would in itself be acceptable\u201d (\u201cCommunion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God<\/a>*). But even so, the Vatican continued, experimenting<\/em> with human DNA to develop such techniques, especially on living embryos, is problematic. Likewise, the Vatican said, using genetics to create enhance capabilities in a healthy individual is morally unacceptable.<\/p>\n The God Gene hypothesis was first proposed by a geneticist named Dean Hamer in a 2004 book, The God Gene: How Faith is Hardwired into our Genes<\/em>. The hypothesis is based on studies in behavioral genetics, neurobiology, and psychology.\u00a0 Hamer proposed that genetic factors can predispose us \u2014 or not \u2014 to be open to spiritual experiences. Note that the hypothesis does not<\/em> assert that genetics cause people to believe in God. As I understand it, the hypothetical God Gene works through neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which affect our moods and could be responsible for self-transcendence and other spiritual experiences. Hamer also contributes to the ongoing spiritualty versus religion argument<\/a> by proposing that spirituality is a personality trait with a potential genetic basis, while religion is a product of human culture.<\/p>\n Hamer\u2019s hypothesis has not been scientifically tested, as far as I know, and it has been met with considerable skepticism from science.\u00a0 (Although if you have a science or teaching background you might enjoy \u201cExperimenting with Spirituality: Analyzing The God Gene in a Nonmajors Laboratory Course<\/a>\u201d at NIH,) Still, it gets talked about a lot. The primary objection is that spirituality is too complex a phenomenon to be attributed to any one factor. Of course, it also may be true that some of us do have more active neurotransmitters.\u00a0 But I\u2019d like to think that anyone could<\/em> have a spiritual experience.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been focusing on Christianity because nearly all of the accessible online English language discussions of genetics and religion that I could find are from a Christian perspective. I imagine, but cannot say for certain, that the concerns posed by Christianity have counterparts in Judaism and Islam.<\/p>\n I did find one essay on Hindu views on genetic engineering<\/a>. With the caveat that the author may not speak for all of Hinduism, the essay supports genetic medicine to cure disease but not genetic enhancement. It cautions against using genetic engineering for personal or commercial gain.<\/p>\n As a practicing Buddhist<\/a> of several years I can\u2019t say that genetic science poses any particular challenge within Buddhism<\/a>, which has no creator God. The Buddha spoke often of the importance of addressing suffering; medical procedures that reduce suffering would seem unobjectionable. However, I can imagine that somewhere on the planet there may be a hyper-conservative monk who argues that genetic diseases are the fruit of karma and people should just live with them. But that would be a minority opinion.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Religion and the science of DNA may seem to have nothing in common. But in fact, since the discovery of DNA in 1953, some religious traditions have grappled with many new concerns, such as the morality of genetic engineering. It\u2019s also been proposed that there is a \u201cGod gene\u201d that predisposes some people toward spirituality. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4714,"featured_media":8348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,31],"tags":[100,533],"class_list":["post-8342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christianity","category-science-and-religion","tag-religion-and-current-events","tag-religion-and-science"],"yoast_head":"\nDNA, Religion, and Genetics in Medicine<\/h2>\n
What About the God Gene?<\/h2>\n
Other Religions<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1525\/2025\/11\/DNA_strands.jpg\")