Ark of the Covenant Update – January 6, 2000
For a number of years the discovery of Jesus’ blood on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant has been discussed. While that point, in and of itself is controversial, the issue of Christ’s blood and its makeup has been another issue of controversy.
We recognize that this controversy cannot be put completely to rest until the test results on Christ’s blood are released publicly. However, we have recently been contacted by a Dr. Eugene Dunkley (Phd. Genetics). Ron Wyatt discussed the test results with Dr. Dunkley at length the last time Ron was in England.
Although he has not personally analyzed the blood sample, Dr. Dunkley addresses in the following article the feasibliity of the test results that Ron reported and what a genetic scientist would expect to find in an analysis of the blood of Jesus Christ. I believe you will find this information both interesting and thought provoking.
NORMAL CHROMOSOMES AND DEVELOPMENT
by Dr. Eugene Dunkley
What would the chromosomes of the virgin-born Son of God look like?
Normally, human cells have forty six chromosomes present in the nucleus. Chromosomes are actually structures which contain the vast majority of the human genes, from which we get our various traits. Chromomsomes can be classified as either autosomal or sex-determining. The autosomal chromosomes are actually paired chromosomes, with twenty-two maternal chromosomes and twenty-two paternal chromosomes. These chromosomes are paired because they are homologous, that is they contain genes which code for the same functions. The two sex-determining chromosomes are the X and Y chromosomes. Females are XX; males are XY.
Because the chromosomes are in pairs, the cells containing 46 chromosomes are said to be diploid. In contrast, haploid cells are cells with unpaired chromosomes. These only have 23 chromosomes, and are normally only found in the gametes. Gametes from the male can have either an X or a Y chromosome as a sex-determinant, whereas gametes from a female will only have the X chromosome as a sex-determinant.
ABERRATIONS IN THE CHROMOSOME NUMBER
Changes in the chromosome number is often associated with disease. Aneuploidy is the addition or deletion of individual chromosomes from the normal diploid set of 46. This condition arises during development of the embryo and is considered to be lethal; only a low percentage of children conceived with this condition survive till birth. Diseases associated with aneuploidy of the autosomal chromosomes which have resulted in live birth are trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) and trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome). Downs syndrome is the only trisomy of an autosomal chromosome which allows survival to adulthood. Of the sex chromosomes, however, aneuploidy is far more common (1 in 400 males and 1 in 650 females). Some well-characterised aneuploidies of the sex chromosomes are 45, X (Turner Syndrome), 47, XXY (Klinefelter Syndrome) and XYY Syndrome.
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS AND CANCER
There is a growing amount of data involved with the relationship between chromosomal breakages and cancer. Many tumors are associated with deletions of DNA. In fact, it is believed by many that chromosomal breakage may be the cause of many types of cancer. This is believed to the loss of function of some genes involved in the control of cell division; when the gene or genes is/are missing or inactive the cells divide without restraint and invade neighboring tissue. Even when one copy of these controller genes are present, it may not be enough because of a dependence on the gene dosage.
A VIRGIN BIRTH
So, it is generally accepted that humans require 46 chromosomes because of the need for the correct gene dosage. Too many copies of a gene will likely result in abnormalities and disease, whereas too little of a gene is considered fatal. However, this is based on the need for the correct gene dosage.
If we take the Virgin birth of Jesus Christ as an historical fact, what chromosomal number and type would we expect? Clearly, 46 chromosomes, though normal in humans, would indicate normal fertilization. However, since no human male was involved in the conception of the Christ, then one would not expect to find 46 chromosomes. However, the maternal chromosomes would be provided by the mother as the host, so we would expect at least 23.
If this is the case, what would be the nature of any genetic material provided by divine means? It would presumably carry male-determining factors because these would not be provided by Mary. However, there would have to be provision from this “divine” DNA to be also able to compensate for the reduced gene dosage which would result from the missing 23 paternal chromosomes.
Such a mechanism could exist if we have a deep enough understanding of gene activation and expression. Genes are normally turned on and off due to various factors present; if these factors maintained a single-gene copy at a maximal rate then the presence of a second gene could be completely redundant. Also, this divine DNA could also code for activators that are able not only to maintain the optimal gene dosage but also allow access to genes normally locked from activation (and presumably “lost)”.
DNA AND BLOOD
It is generally known that mature red blood cells (RBCs), which are found in the circulatory system, are enucleated, that is they have no nuclei and therefore no chromosomes. Thus, they are incapable of dividing and being cultured. However, white blood cells (WBCs), which are the mainstay of the immune system, contain DNA and are thus capable of division. In fact, cell lines of monocytes, leukocytes, and macrophages are routinely used to study the immune response and a number of biological processes. Blood samples are routinely taken to isolate DNA for a number of studies.
If it were possible to obtain a blood sample of Jesus Christ, what could a person expect to find? To be immortal, the cells would be capable of life at any stage, because apoptosis (programmed cell death) could not take place. One could culture the WBCs and study the DNA content in vivo (that is, under living conditions). Karyotypes of cultured cells could be obtained by a number of cytogenetic techniques to observe both the chromosome number and the banding pattern of the chromosomes. These would give enormous insight into the activity of the genes and the nature of the man known by many to be the “Son of God”.