The Missing Link
Exploring the stories we tell about our origins
There are quite a few theories about how humans came to be on Earth. Religions claim that God created humans, as if all species were placed on Earth out of nothing. Science believes in the theory of evolution, which states that species descend from other species. In our case, that we descended from apes. In alternative circles, the possibility is discussed that extraterrestrials are responsible for humans on Earth through genetic manipulation.
Nothing comes from nothing
When I look at nature, I don’t see anything arising from nothing. There is always something that marks the beginning. In the case of a human, it starts with the fusion of a male sperm cell and a female egg cell. A kind of big bang that initiates new life. These cells carry a program within them and know exactly what to do to grow into a human being. The energy needed for growth comes from nourishment. The idea that a god created humans from nothing is not supported by nature.
Evolution fits the picture
The theory of evolution is supported by nature. When we look at the succession of species, we see clear similarities and transitions. Our brains, for example, are made up of a part that corresponds to reptiles and a part that corresponds to mammals. The latter part is built upon the former, which we see reflected in nature through archaeological understanding that mammals appeared on Earth after reptiles.
The limits of what we know
But of course, we understand far less than we think. There are plenty of missing links, and they raise far more questions than we have been able to answer so far. In our research, we assume all kinds of things and build on those assumptions. But the question always remains: is such an assumption correct, and to what extent? People aren’t exactly known for admitting they were wrong.
Gods, aliens, and invented stories
A fascinating story is that of the Anunnaki, which claims to explain a missing link in our DNA. Although we largely share DNA with apes, there seems to be a missing link. The extraterrestrial race of the Anunnaki supposedly came to Earth for resources. To mine them, they genetically manipulated apes with their own DNA. Their creation would be humans, meant to serve them as slaves. Religions invented gods. Alternative thinkers invented aliens. Even science comes up with all kinds of ideas. People are highly creative when it comes to storytelling. The Anunnaki travel light-years in a spaceship to Earth and then create a primitive being to mine resources. As if they didn’t have the equipment to do it efficiently themselves. Well, to many, the Earth is flat. Just a few hundred years ago, the Sun also revolved around the Earth, and good luck arguing against that.
What if there is no missing link?
But that missing link does exist. So what’s the deal? How does evolution really work? Did God write the program in our DNA? Maybe part of many stories is true, but we can’t separate the wheat from the chaff because there’s too much noise on the line. Could humans ever understand a program made by God? Should we even want to? What would that give us? What is our purpose in this universe, anyway? What is the purpose of life, of all life that exists in this universe? Yes, we are curious, that’s human nature. We are also self-assured. Creative. Storytellers. My story is no different.
DNA - the universal program?
Could the DNA that all living beings on Earth carry be the same program? The same DNA, but tailored to each species for what it needs to do. DNA as a program that unfolds itself further as evolution progresses and species succeed one another. It could be that clever. Intelligent, not artificial but natural. And why couldn’t it make leaps between species? Then there is no missing link, it must be exactly like that. We still know so little about DNA. Will we ever fully understand it? What role does consciousness play in DNA? Does DNA have a quantum mechanical component? Is individual DNA somehow connected to the DNA of a species or even all life? Can a non-living element also carry a kind of DNA that we don’t yet recognize as such? Can a species develop steadily and then suddenly make a leap? How does that work?
Enough stories have been told. Enough stories are still being written. The search for answers continues, driven by that most human of qualities: curiosity.
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