Evolution and Genetics Front and Center

Cover stories on both Time magazine (Oct 25th) and National Geographic (Nov) feature provocative biological themes -- "The God Gene" and "Was Darwin Wrong" respectively. The first article, largely based on the work of Dean Hamer, describes a a variation in a gene on chromosome 10 that is involved in neural signaling. It turns out that a single mutation in this gene (VMAT2) accounts for a signficant amount of variation in self-described spirituality. Ultimately, the article sums up the current state of affairs by concluding that our brains evolved in a way that makes gods and that this capability is simply another Darwinian adaptation! The National Geographic piece, perhaps more of a marketing stunt than anything else, sums up the answer to its rhetorical question on the first page with a large-font, bold-faced NO! Refreshing honesty from very mainstream media -- perhaps there is some hope for a return to rationality after all!