Perhaps one should not generate moral lessons from genetics, but I cannot help myself.
I like thinking about DNA sequences of nucleotides and how they are divided into protein coding segments called exons which are separated by non-coding segments called introns. Messenger RNA (mRNA) splices together the information from the exons to produce (potentially) a wide variety of proteins. To do so, mRNA "ignores" or splices out the intron segments. (Pardon my oversimplifications).
Which would you rather be: an exon or an intron?
My father used to give me irritating advice. He still does. He used to say things like: "Steve, do you want to be a ballplayer in life or just a spectator? Do you want to be playing on the field or just sitting in the stands?"
For some reason I think of exons as ballplayers. They are active and they affect outcomes.
BUT, the introns are important, even if they are sort of like spectators. They allow for "creativity" in the construction of proteins, but otherwise they just sit there. They just sort of watch things go by.
So, if your life were translated into DNA (it sort of is already), then would you be an exon or an intron?
Maybe you are an intron now, but will evolve into an exon. Wow, that could be a possibility. I suppose the reverse could happen too.
There are significant dangers in stereotyping people and labeling them. People are not all one thing or another. Metaphorically speaking, I suppose we could be a little bit of exon and a little bit of intron at the same time. It is OK to be introns and watch TV or play video games, as long as we occasionally turn into exons and try to shape our communities (for the good).
I suppose in the LDS Church we are trying to help turn people into exons more than introns.
OK, it is early in the morning and maybe I am off my rocker. What's my excuse? I am just trying to be an exon.
Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
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9 comments:
I'm one of those rare exon/introns. I vascillate between being both. ;)
"Perhaps one should not generate moral lessons from genetics, but I cannot help myself."
Yes you should!
Jesus Christ *always* used parables, often with things from nature that his audience could relate to, to draw analogies with His deep messages.
I guess you need to make sure when you draw such lessons you should make sure your audience understands your symbols.
Joseph Smidt:
I thought everyone understood DNA. I sometimes need to remember NOT everyone sees the world as I see it.
S.Faux,
Don't misunderstand me, I was actually trying to give encouragement. I'm sure many people reading this blog understand the basics of DNA so I wasn't trying to do anything other than encourage.
Great post! I'd like to see more of this kind of thing.
I really think scientific training can be a great tool for understanding gospel teachings better if we're willing to listen to God's counsels. I'm taking a Horticulture class right now and in small ways it has opened my understanding to some elements in the endowment ceremony. Funny, huh?
Hmmm. That came out wrong. How about this--I hope that the Spirit inspires you with more ideas for blog posts about this kind of thing.
What a thread title!
Introns have more purpose than described, and really no one knows their whole purpose, so I think the analogy either breaks down or can be expanded.
However, it is an interesting comparison. I like the idea of being both.
Kelly Ann:
I was expecting the kind of comment you made. However, you don't say what I should have done, and so I cannot defend what I did. I think there is little purpose in trying to capture all the nuances of introns. I did capture a few. Besides, the piece was just an attempt at early-morning humor without trying to get really complicated.
S.Faux,
Like Delirious, I think I vascillate between both. Sometimes I want to be a trend setting exon and sometimes I want to be a behind the scenes intron.
I guess either is better than being "junk" DNA.
Cheers!
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