A devastating critique of the central axiom of Darwinian evolution--blind natural selection--using the latest in genetic research. Not for the faint of heart, unless you have a firm grasp on biology and genetics, but well worth the read.

As someone who values both faith and science, I approached Genetic Entropy with an open mind and a strong desire to understand its arguments. The book's central thesis—that mutations inevitably lead to a decline in genetic fitness, thereby challenging the conventional theory of evolution—raises important questions. However, after careful consideration, I found its conclusions to be both fascinating and problematic.

Dr. Sanford's professional background as a geneticist lends credibility to his arguments, and his writing is accessible for readers without advanced scientific training. The examples he provides, particularly concerning the accumulation of deleterious mutations, highlight real challenges in the field of genetics. It is undeniable that mutation rates and their impact on fitness are areas of ongoing research and debate.

That said, the book's broader implications often stray into speculative territory. While Dr. Sanford effectively critiques certain aspects of neo-Darwinian theory, his alternative explanation is less robust and heavily reliant on assumptions that lack empirical support. Science thrives on testable predictions and reproducible evidence, and Genetic Entropy often falls short in this regard. Many of the studies cited are cherry-picked, and opposing viewpoints are not given a fair examination.

Moreover, the book occasionally presents a false dichotomy: suggesting that the flaws in evolutionary theory necessarily validate a particular worldview or alternative. This approach undermines its credibility, as scientific inquiry is not about "either-or" conclusions but rather the continuous refinement of understanding.

In conclusion, Genetic Entropy provides a thought-provoking critique of evolutionary theory, but its arguments require deeper scrutiny and more rigorous scientific grounding. It serves as a useful introduction to certain genetic concepts but should be read alongside other perspectives to develop a more balanced understanding of the subject. For those interested in exploring the complexities of genetics and evolution, this book is worth reading critically and with an open mind.

Outstanding book

I read this book to educate myself and enlarge my borders. I'm not scientifically inclined and had to take my time (6 months) getting through it. After finding Dr. Sanford's video lectures online, my progress and understanding of what is written in the book became a lot easier. Although it was a challenge, I would highly recommend this book.

Anyone who can make genotype/phenotype mutation understandable deserves five stars. Not only that, but Sanford made it fascinating, with references to the Princess and the Pea, and other classics. Well done. I was surprised by the last chapter, the author’s preface or something like that, which was much more satisfying than Behe’s Black Box. Sanford ends his last official chapter mentioning no other alternatives than intelligent design, but then goes on to preach Jesus loud and clear. Well done.

Most interesting part of the book: apparently the lengths of the lives in the Bible follow a very mathematical and biological decay line. The author concluded that either these numbers could have been cooked up (and that the writers were somehow two-thousand years advanced in their calculations) or that they are simply true. Indeed.

Most alarming part: I don’t think I’ve heard of this whole 5% fitness degeneration with each generation before. Concerning. Confusing. Is the world going to pot?

Brilliant! An irrefutable treatise with more than adequate evidence to totally undermine the "Primary Axiom": That all life was formed by blind purposeless chance, that sentience evolved from non-sentience. Well done indeed.

Old but good. Truth never changes, that's why. Dr. John Sanford has revolutionized how we view disease and it's all based on YEC.

I had to get this book after I read the Young Earth Creation Model by Rawmatt and Standing for Truth. They talk about a simulation that anyone can run called Mendel's Accountant where you can take any size population you want and run any evolutionary hypothesis you like and it validates that Evolution is a lie. How right they were, and anyone can do this free right now. They actually use Mendel's Accountant at the National Institute of health, not evolution theory. So that is how much the theory of evolution is used in medicine, not at all. They actually use a program designed by Young Earth Creationists because it's what works and what we see. This sold me on genetic entropy and this book. I doubted it a little till I saw with my own eyes and math never lies.

"Genetic Entropy & The Mystery of the Genome" is essentially a science book looking at how genomes degenerate over time and how this is a problem for macro-evolution theory. He started off with a fairly basic explanation of how mutations and natural selection are supposed to create new, beneficial information. I think anyone could follow this. He then delved into the reality of genetic mutations and how even a beneficial mutation wouldn't survive the overall degeneration of the genome to do any good.

Even as someone who took some college level biology and genetics classes, I had to concentrate hard to follow all of what he was saying. It helped that he'd use common-place analogies to explain his point for a lay person, but I think you have to be very interested in the topic to read it completely through. It'll probably most appeal to those who work with genetics or in biology.

John C. Sanford was a plant geneticist at Cornell University until his retirement in 1998. He founded two biotechnology companies and had numerous inventions and patents including helping develop the "gene gun." Shortly after his retirement he embraced intelligent design and young earth creationism and subsequently wrote the first edition of the book under review, the full title was "Genetic Entropy and the Mystery of the Genome."

Now in its 4th edition Sanford's book consists of 11 chapters and 6 appendices. His basic view is that there are simply too many mutations for evolution to have occurred and that selection is unable to overcome that. Hence, the genome is deteriorating and no propositions have been put forth to counter what he calls "genetic entropy." He appeals to population genetics and specifically to "Muller's Ratchet" and "Haldane's Dilemma" to illustrate the problems of mutation and selection and their inability to stop the degeneration of the genome.

Admittedly I do not have the requisite education and expertise to evaluate many of Sanford's claims regarding mutation and selection. I'll have to leave that to the experts in the fields of genetics, population genetics, information theory, and other related fields to do that work.

I do however believe that there are some fundamental problems that make Sanford's thesis unworkable.

* His view infers that there was a pristine state of the genome (whether human or the various organisms in the world) where it has degenerated since then. There is no evidence of such a perfect state, it is at best inferred.

* His view is fundamentally tied to a young earth view. If multicellular life has been around for hundreds of millions of years then all genomes would have degenerated to extinction by now. The simple fact that the earth is still teaming with all sorts of biological life indicates that his view is simply not true. This is especially so since the evidence is overwhelming that the earth is billions of years old.

* Sanford assumes that the great ages of many of the patriarch's listed in the Bible are historically true (Methuselah living to 969 years, Noah 950 years, Shem 600 years, etc.). From a historical critical perspective, (as well as a scientific and even medical) such a notion is simply untenable without any evidence. Sanford argues that Noah was the pivotal point, as before the flood people lived much longer, but afterwards their life spans dropped dramatically (Shela 433 pages, Peleg 239, Isaac 180). He even includes a chart in chapter 10 showing the declining lifespans that he feels demonstrates the Bible's inspiration. In addition to the fact that people simply didn't live that long, there is no evidence of a worldwide flood (see the works by Davis A. Young).

* Sanford's view attempts to discount biological evolution by attacking its mechanism. I would argue that even if Sanford was correct in his views about mutation and selection, it doesn't address the overwhelming evidence supporting the correctness of evolution. Evidence such as a common genetic code, nested hierarchies, convergence of independent phylogenies, atavisms, biogeography, genetic markers demonstrating descent, ERVs, etc.

The bottom line is that although creationists and intelligent design advocates are going to love this book, it doesn't refute evolution.

I'm only reading this as a favor to a friend!

Update: terrible book. The author took way too long to make any point, and when he did, his logic was inconsistent with itself.

As a student studying genetics at University this book offered an insightful view into the fallacy of the primary axiom. From taking population genetics and molecular genetics I was really able to understand the depth of this book. It definitely opened my eyes.