In it francis collins, the eminent scientist, tells why he is also a devout believer. Dr francis collins led the human genome project from 1993. As a believer, i see dna, the information molecule of all living things, as gods language, and the elegance and. Ive had the opportunity to study our own dna instruction book at. Jul 28, 2009 the article, science is in the details about francis collins by sam harris is published at the new york times for paid up members but it appears fully on the web site of the author. As the director of the national human genome research institute since 1993. The nih director national institutes of health nih. In this book collins presents evidence for evolution too. A scientist presents evidence for belief is a bestselling book by francis collins in which he advocates theistic evolution. There is a dust up being reported at exgaywatch over comments made by francis collins, former head of the human genome project. Mar 17, 2020 thats what francis collins, the director of the national institutes of health, told me on saturday. A biography david klinghoffer may 1, 2009 intelligent design. With fluid prose and compelling narratives, francis collins makes modern medical. Nih director francis collins on why christians must reconcile.
Human genome scientist dr francis collins talks to nigel bovey. Francis collins, director of the human genome project that mapped the human dna structure said that one can think of dna as an instructional script, a software program, sitting in the nucleus of the cell. Jul 05, 2016 before my address, francis collins, the director of the human genome project and the comapper of human dna, presented his talk. I was much more impressed by his evidence for evolution.
Dr francis collins shares awesome pictures from book of life. He is currently director of the us national institutes of health nih. Francis collins, director of the national institute of health, 2007 recipient of the presidential medal of freedom, and 15year head of the human genome project, comes one of the most important medical books of the year. Collins has overseen the mapping, the sequencing, and the funding of biologys first big science project as the director of the national human genome research institute from 1993 to 2008. Francis collins had an impressive track record as a gene hunter cystic.
That book, in turn, helped collins gain new fans and a nomination from barack obama to head the national. Collins is a physiciangeneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international human genome project, which culminated in april 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human dna instruction book. Francis collins on science and religion explorefaith. Jan 27, 2015 head of human genome talks about his coming to christ. Perhaps immodestly, id recommend my own book, the language of life.
Dna and the revolution in personalized medicine, and more on. Francis collins comments on homosexuality and genetics. As a geneticist he has peered down a microscope and been the first person to see processes that previously only god knew about. Rns on top of his duties as the director of the national institutes of health, francis collins takes time to answer letters from christians trying to reconcile their faith with science. Francis collins, director of the national institutes of health, dedicated this musical number to dr.
July 11 is the 10th anniversary of the publication of theistic evolutionist francis collins the language of god, which became a new york times bestseller largely because of collins reputation as director of the national human genome research institute. Collins describes the medical, scientific, and genetic. Apr 30, 2009 a year after stepping down as director of the human genome project, dr. In 2006, collins published his book the language of god,3 an.
Francis seller s colli ns born april 14, 1950 is an american physiciangeneticist who discovered the genes associated with a number of diseases and led the human genome project. The language of god he is referring to is dna and the book contains many. Before my address, francis collins, the director of the human genome project and the comapper of human dna, presented his talk. Collins, who was once an avowed atheist, is now a strong believer in jesus christ and tackles all his tasks with the confidence that comes with the. With fluid prose and compelling narratives, francis collins makes modern medical science vivid and accessible.
Francis collins, conducted with jim daly of focus on the family in which he gave sage and reasonable advice about the coronavirus outbreak. It was obvious that someone wanted customers to see this book. Dna and the revolution in personalized medicine francis s. The organization is poor and the reader engagement is lacking. Francis collins has written a number of books on science, medicine and religion, including the new york times bestseller the language of god. Collins is an american physiciangeneticist, noted for his discoveries of disease genes, and his leadership of the human genome project hgp. The human genome consists of all the dna of our species, the hereditary code of life. What did francis collins really say about homosexuality. Scientist francis collins on evolution science faith religion. Francis collins, was not only the director of the human genome project for 15 years, but is also a selfprofessed christian who is increasingly touted by the media and academic elite as the authority on science, faith, and darwin. Francis collins is embarking on a new venture, one that may be even harder than deciphering dna. Stained glass dna by francis collins random thoughts.
Interview with francis collins of nih the atlantic. Francis collins is one of the worlds leading geneticists, well known for heading the human genome project and bringing it to a successful completion ahead of schedule and under budget. The following is a recent interview that the director of the national institute of health nih, dr. Collins, served as nhgris director since april 1993. If sequencing the human genome is the holy grail of biology, then francis collins is its king arthur. It is written by francis collins, an obvious pioneer in the field, who now has an extremely influential position in american science. Francis collins, director of the national institute of health. Nih director francis collins visits uab campus this friday. Francis collins, american geneticist who discovered genes causing genetic diseases and led the u. He offers an aweinspiring tour of the complexities of biology, genetics, and dna and reveals a richly satisfying, harmonious melding of scientific and spiritual worldviews. No matter where you go online these days, theres bound to be discussion of coronavirus disease 2019 covid19. Francis collins how easy it might be for scientists to play god.
Francis collins 1950 if sequencing the human genome is the holy grail of biology, then francis collins is its king arthur. Refuting the tired stereotypes of hostility between science and religion, francis collins challenges his readers to find a unity of knowledge that encompasses both faith and reason. Francis trained as a doctor at the university of north carolina where he became aware of the problem of inherited diseases and the tremendous challenge they pose for science. Francis collins is the distinguished physician and geneticist who was the director of the human genome project. Francis collins, director of the national institute of health, 2007 recipient of the presidential medal of freedom, and 15year head of the human. He is director of the national institutes of health nih in bethesda, maryland, united states.
Evidence from twin studies does in fact support the conclusion that heritable factors play a role in male homosexuality. Francis collins is wellknown for his work in genetics especially on the human genome project. Collins raises arguments for the idea of god from biology. The actual science of dna is glossed over to focus on selfhelp messages like stop smoking and obesity. It is hard to get your mind around how much information this is three billion is a big number, even here in washington. Perry marshall, an information specialist, comments on the implications of this. He raises arguments for the idea of god from biology, astrophysics, psychology and other disciplines. A year after stepping down as director of the human genome project, dr. A scientist presents evidence for belief, francis collins has this to say about homosexuality on page 260. Francis collins, director of the national institutes of health human genome project, talks about ending the battle between science and faith interview by jon sweeney explorefaith sat down recently with dr. An area of particularly strong public interest is the genetic basis of homosexuality. As a believer, i see dna, the information molecule of all living.
A scientist presents evidence for belief, and the language of life. He is also a christian, who came to faith as an adult finishing his second doctorate. Collins is an american physiciangeneticist, noted for his discoveries of disease genes, and his leadership of. A scientist presents evidence for belief 9781416542742 by francis s. In the book, collins describes briefly the process by which he became a christian. Collins is physiciangeneticist who has identified several disease genes, such as those responsible for cystic fibrosis, huntingtons disease, and type 2 diabetes. He currently serves as the director of the us national institutes of health. In the final pages of his new book about personalized medicine, francis collins offers a compelling vision of the future via a fictional. He spoke of the intelligibility and marvel of the book of life, filled with more than three billion bits of information. Collins is known for his work as a physiciangeneticist and his discoveries of disease genes. Scientist francis collins on evolution science faith.
In a fairly salient moment of the book, collins sends his dna to three. Francis sellers collins born april 14, 1950, in staunton, virginia is a physician and geneticist known for leading the human genome project to its completion. On august 17, 2009 he was sworn in as director of the national institutes of health nih. Stained glass windows, human dna, and the starspangled. A scientific and medical revolution has crept up on us. As the director of the national human genome research institute since 1993 what some call the most. Collins spearheaded the international human genome project, a groundbreaking effort that led to the deciphering of the human dna instruction book. Nih director francis collins on why christians must. Francis collins is a physiciangeneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international human genome project, which culminated in april 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human dna instruction book. The human genome research was a complex multidisciplinary scientific enterprise directed at mapping and sequencing all of the human dna, and determining aspects of its function. Stauntonborn scientist francis collins will be on pbs. Collins free press n e w y o r k london toronto sydney jul 7 2006. Narth dean byrd wrote an article for the narth website dated april 4, 2007 quoting collins book, the language of god, on genetics and homosexuality. Review of the language of god by gert korthof, 23 aug 2006 updated.
Francis collins performs with the band during the first day of the biologos conference on march 27, 2019, in washington. A scientist presents evidence for belief by francis s. Freeing god from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself. The book gives an overview of many of the important genomic advances through collins eyes, giving a personal touch on the science. He served as director of the national human genome research institute at nih from 1993. We now know that the language spoken by our dna is the language of life itself, and in this important book collins shows how reading that. Francis collins of nih speaks about coronavirus the. This book sets out hope without hype, and will enrich the mind and uplift the heart. Collins is one of the most widely respected physiciangeneticists in the world, who is deeply. A scientist presents evidence for belief free press, 2006.
His research with the human genome project ended with the completion of the human dna instruction book in 2003, according to the. National institutes of health nih public research consortium in the human genome project hgp. Of god a scientist presents evidence for belief francis s. Human genome project director francis collins says, even 50 years later, its impossible to overstate the importance of knowing the structure of dna. Dna and the revolution in personalized medicine harpercollins, published in early 2010. When one of the worlds most famous scientists explained why and how he came to believe in a personal god, it was a major event. Alternatively, will we turn our backs on faith, concluding that science has rendered the spiritual life no longer necessary, and. Francis sellers collins born april 14, 1950 is an american physiciangeneticist who discovered the genes associated with a number of diseases and led the human genome project. Barack obama nominated collins to head the nih, a move that was confirmed by the u. But if youre talking about the dna of an embryo, with the intention. Will we turn our backs on science because it is perceived as a threat to god, abandoning all the promise of advancing our understanding of nature and applying that to the alleviation of suffering and the betterment of humankind. Genomic study points to natural origin of covid19 nih. In his work, he was responsible for discovering the genes mutated in cystic fibrosis and huntingtons disease. Francis collins, worldrenowned geneticist, physician, and former director of the national human genome research institute shares his journey from atheism to faith, and how a.
998 182 1061 161 827 344 377 662 122 379 664 1632 1591 422 813 595 641 742 1239 1237 1422 928 932 1253 161 721 587