The Genetic Bottlenecks & Adam: Prophet Adam (s)‘s Role in Human History

By T.O. Shanavas, New Age Islam 16 March 2024 Therefore, The Survival Of Humanity From Just Two Ancestors, Adam And Eve, Is Considered Implausible Within The Context Of Our Current Understanding Of Genetic Bottlenecks And Their Impact On Population Viability. Based On The Evidence Given Adam And Eve Cannot Be Considered As Biological Parents Of Humanity ------- The traditional Islamic belief posits that Adam and Eve (Hawwa) were the first humans from whom all human beings descend, a concept derived from the Quranic verse 4:1. This verse emphasizes for most Muslims the creation of humanity from a pair of human--Adam and Eve, from whom men and women were spread across the earth. But scientific evidence challenges this notion. A genetic or population bottleneck occurs when a significant environmental event—such as famine, earthquakes, or diseases—drastically reduces the size of a population. This reduction can lead to a decrease in genetic diversity, as the surviving population has fewer variations in its gene pool. A population with limited genetic diversity is more susceptible to challenges such as diseases, environmental changes, and reproductive failures, because it lacks the genetic variance necessary to adapt and overcome these obstacles. Consequently, the survival and health of the population are compromised, with its viability potentially reduced by 50% or more. Over time, the continuous decline in species vigour due to these factors can lead to extinction. Small and isolated populations, in particular, face severe risks due to their lack of genetic diversity. In such groups, genetic diseases become more common as a result of inbreeding, and the population's genetic vulnerability is exacerbated by the absence of new genetic material. This combination of factors significantly increases the likelihood of extinction. Evidence of genetic bottlenecks can be observed across various animal and human studies and showcasing how such events affect population extinction. To quote few examples: The extinction of the Tasmanian Aboriginals as a distinct community was not directly due to genetic bottlenecks. Instead, their tragic demise resulted primarily from European colonization in the 19th century, which brought about disease, violence, and displacement. The introduction of new diseases to which the indigenous population had no immunity, combined with the policy of European colonizers that forcibly removed individuals from their lands, significantly reduced their numbers. The last full-blooded Tasmanian Aboriginal were Truganini (1812–1876) and Fanny Cochrane Smith (1834–1905). Another example involves the Ashkenazi Jewish population, which has experienced several genetic bottlenecks over the centuries, notably during the medieval period in Europe. These bottlenecks have led to a higher prevalence of certain genetic diseases within the population, such as Tay-Sachs disease, Gaucher disease, and familial dysautonomia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Canavan Disease, Fanconi Anemia, Niemann-Pick Disease, Bloom Syndrome, Mucolipidosis IV, and other diseases due to the founder effect where a small gene pool led to the propagation of specific genetic mutations. At one time of their history Ashkenazi Jews population was reduced to just 350 people. Later population increased due to outside community marriages, medical advancement of survival and other factors. Applying this concept of genetic bottlenecks to the human species, the notion of the entire human race descending from just two individuals—Adam and Eve—poses a challenge from a genetic perspective. Starting with such a minimal population would result in an extreme bottleneck, where genetic variation is almost non-existent. According to the principles of population genetics, this scenario would likely have led to the extinction of the human species due to the severe limitations it imposes on genetic diversity and the ability to adapt to environmental changes and diseases. Therefore, the survival of humanity from just two ancestors, Adam and Eve, is considered implausible within the context of our current understanding of genetic bottlenecks and their impact on population viability. Based on the evidence given Adam and Eve cannot be considered as biological parents of humanity, but as spiritual parents and prophet of Islam who drew human species from animality to humanity guiding with Islamic ethics and social order. For the validation for Adam and Eve as spiritual parents, not biological parents, please read the following New Age Articles: 1. Adam and Eve: The Spiritual, Not Biological, Parents of Human Species 2. The Creation of Adam and Human Species: A New Study 3. The Quran and the Creation/Evolution of Human Beings 4. Divine Mercy and Qur’anic Definition of Islam, Muslim and Al- Momineen 5. The Creation/Evolution Of Human Species ------ T.O. Shanavas is a native of Kerala, but is now based in the USA.He is the author of “Islamic Theory of evolution of Evolution The Missing Link Between Darwin and The Origin of Species.” Co-author of the book, And God Said, "Let There Be Evolution!": Reconciling The Book Of Genesis, The Qur'an, And The Theory Of Evolution. Edited by Prof. Charles M. Wynn and Prof. Arthur W. Wiggins. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-science/genetic-bottlenecks-adam-prophet-human-history/d/131931 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism