Unveiling the Mystery: Embracing Faith Without Potatoes for a Deeper Walk with Christ

What! … no potatoes?

The Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s resulted in the death of over 1.5 million people in Ireland due to the failure of potato crops caused by a disease called potato blight. This catastrophic event led to mass emigration, particularly to North America and Australia. The reason potatoes were so susceptible to the disease was that when they were introduced to Europe in the 1500s, they did not include varieties with resistance to blight. European crops lacked genetic diversity, which included the genes for resistance to blight.

The Consequences of Genetic Uniformity

The success of plant breeders in increasing crop yields has led to the replacement of traditional varieties with new ones. For example, in China, around 9,000 varieties of wheat have been lost since 1949. The "Green Revolution" saw the development of high-yielding rice and wheat varieties, replacing traditional community-bred varieties. However, this loss of genetic diversity poses problems.

Large areas planted with a single variety are vulnerable to new strains of pests and diseases for which they lack resistance. Plant breeders often introduce genes from wild plants or traditional landraces to create new varieties with improved traits. However, with the loss of wild types and landraces, plant breeders may struggle to find sources of genes for further breeding. This loss of genetic diversity is a serious problem, with approximately 75% of genetic diversity in agricultural crops estimated to have been lost this century.

The Limits of Breeding

Breeding efforts often focus on specific traits such as yield or appearance, neglecting other characteristics like flavor. Selecting for one trait can come at the expense of another, and there are biological limits to what can be achieved through breeding. Breeding cannot create new features for which there are no existing genes or exceed the biological capabilities of an organism.

Genetic Information Cannot Arise by Chance

The concern for the loss of genetic diversity in crops highlights the fact that no amount of selection, whether artificial or natural, can generate new genetic information. If all genetic information originally arose from random copying mistakes (mutations), then highly intelligent scientists should be able to create new genes for breeding improved varieties. However, despite our understanding of genes, no one can create a gene from scratch. This inability to create genetic information indicates that the genetic information found in living things comes from an intelligent source.

Preserving Genetic Diversity

Recognizing the problem with crop plants, gene banks have been established worldwide to preserve different crop varieties. These gene banks store seeds, but they are vulnerable due to the need for periodic growth to produce fresh seed. While storage at low temperatures can extend seed viability, continuous maintenance is required. Additionally, gene banks often focus on major crop plants and neglect non-cereal plants that are important sources of food in subsistence agriculture. Efforts are being made to involve farmers in maintaining traditional varieties, and Christian organizations are leading the way in conserving genetic resources.

The Importance of Genetic Diversity

Preserving genetic diversity is crucial for ensuring the availability of genes needed for breeding improved varieties. Loss of genetic diversity limits our ability to increase yields, decrease dependence on fertilizers and pesticides, and improve crop quality. It also leaves crops vulnerable to new strains of pests and diseases. The loss of genetic diversity highlights the limitations of blind, purposeless forces like evolution in creating new genetic information.

Why This Matters

Preserving genetic diversity is essential for ensuring food security and sustainability in agriculture. By recognizing the importance of genetic information and its limitations in being generated by chance, we can better appreciate the complexity and design inherent in living organisms.

Think About It

Consider the incredible amount of genetic information present in every living organism. How does this vast amount of information point to an intelligent source rather than random, non-intelligent processes? Reflect on the significance of preserving genetic diversity and the role it plays in agriculture and food production.