Troublesome Topic: HAVING BOTH MALE AND FEMALE DNA IS A TEST NOT AN EXCUSE

Contrary to what I used to think, some people actually do have a natural condition that gives them both male and female DNA at the same time. However, mixed DNA does not mean such people must live a homosexual lifestyle. Sexual activity is a personal choice meaning that someone can also choose not to do it.

There are at least two ways mixed DNA can occur naturally, and a few ways it occurs after In Vitro Fertilization or other human interventions in the reproductive process. However, to avoid complicating matters too much, I choose to focus on the best natural example of how such a condition can come about.

Despite challenging situations, God still holds us responsible for our actions. God’s use of tests will enter the discussion as well.

CHIMERAS

According to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimera, a chimera is, among other things, “an individual, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution.”

One of the ways that happens is through something called the Vanishing Twin Syndrome.

VANISHING TWIN SYNDROME (VTS)

“Vanishing Twin Syndrome … occurs when an embryo detected during an [early] ultrasound can’t be found on a future ultrasound. The embryo stops developing, and its tissue gets absorbed by the pregnant woman and the surviving embryo(s).” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23023-vanishing-twin-syndrome

The Vanishing Twin Syndrome is also called Fusion Chimerism. It happens “if one embryo dies in the womb after an initial twin pregnancy. The surviving fetus may absorb some of the cells of the deceased twin. As a result, the surviving fetus has two sets of DNA: its own DNA, and DNA from its twin.” https://medicover-genetics.com/genetics-of-chimerism-being-your-own-twin/#Fusion_chimerism

I say “thank you” to the people running the Medicover website for using words like “dies and deceased,” thus recognizing that the fetus was alive, i.e. a living human being.

Thankfully, the percentage of the dead sibling’s DNA in the surviving fetus is usually not 50% because the mother absorbs some of it as well. If the mom and the surviving fetus absorb it equally, it would be 25% of the surviving fetus’ DNA; but there is a chance that mom absorbs more.

The cells of human beings are generally about the same size according to type of cell; a larger person has more cells than a smaller person. Therefore, the pregnant mother that absorbs some cells from a deceased twin in her womb will not be affected much by the DNA of that fetus, especially since this usually happens in the first 6 or 7 weeks of pregnancy when the fetus is quite small.

The fetus that lives is definitely more healthy and probably larger than the one that died. This means that the cells absorbed into the living fetus are likely to make up less than 25% of the fetus that thrives.

Are there other situations when a person receives DNA from another person?

Organ transplant recipients do receive some foreign DNA from the new organ. The body receiving body sees these cells as foreign and fights against them to destroy them. An organ includes cells which die off without reproducing by splitting in two, and stem cells which do divide to create more of their kind. The latter are the reason organ recipients must be on drugs the rest of their lives to suppress the body’s natural response to these cells.

The immune system of a mother of a disappearing twin probably does the same – it destroys the foreign cells, unless it does not see them as foreign (I don’t know how the mother’s body sees them).

The immune system of a fetus is not yet developed so the “foreign” DNA seems to stick around and become incorporated into the baby that lives. However, by week 6 some non-stem cells have begun to be developed. Stem cells make replicas of themselves by dividing, non-stem cells simply die and their place is taken by another one that was made for that purpose. Therefore, not all of the deceased baby’s cells will replicate and continue to be an influence in their new host.

My point here is that less than 25% is enough for a person to show a few characteristics that usually are attributed to the opposite sex, but not enough to force that person to live a homosexual life-style.

By comparison, as a man, my sex drive is much more than 25% of who I am as a male, and yet God expects me to keep it under control.

HOW COMMON IS VANISHING TWIN SYNDROME? 

Here is a brief summary.

So we can see that the answer to how common Vanishing Twin Syndrome is cannot be stated with certainty at this time.

MY THREE MAIN POINTS ABOUT MIXED DNA

My first point: There are an unknown number of people walking around with at least some DNA from the opposite sex in their bodies.

My second point: This does not mean that such a person is predetermined from birth to live a homosexual lifestyle. In cases of VTS, the percentage of “opposite” DNA is not high enough to be dominant. Just because they have some mixed DNA does not mean they are being forced toward homosexuality. Homosexuality is a choice of activity; if it is a choice, there is always freedom to choose a different option.

My third point: This too is a test – it is as if God is saying, “Will you resist the tendencies which seem so natural and follow my standard anyway?” Many such people have remained faithful to God’s instructions despite having this type of weakness. Having a weakness is no excuse for not following God’s commands.

When I say God is testing someone, does this mean God purposefully caused them to have the DNA of the opposite gender inside them? No. Rather I think it is something He has allowed as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s fall into sin. By allowing it He is the indirect cause of it, not the direct cause. Since it is a consequence of living in a sin-filled environment, a certain percentage of the population will have this situation to deal with, while others have other situations. Even though this is a natural consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin, how we deal with such situations form one of the tests God uses in many lives. He is watching to see how each one deals with their “big test”, and we all have at least one.

EXAMPLES OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTED IN BIG WAYS

Pyromaniacs: Some people just love to watch things burn; they find the experience captivating. As youth they set on fire as many natural things as they can find. They also burn as much of their own stuff as they can. Then they start burning things that belong to family members, and eventually they set ablaze anything they can find, regardless of who it belong to or how valuable it was. Their interest in burning things is probably quite natural, but that does not mean they are justified in burning down businesses, churches, homes, etc. No, they are usually prosecuted for doing so. God allows them to face this fascinating interest as a test, and He expects them to pass the test even though it is hard. Even though their interest is natural, they must learn to control it and only burn their own stuff, not other people’s stuff.

The rich and the poor: Having no money and having lots of money are a type of test. They are situations that God allows us to face so we can prove to ourselves and to the world, what we are made of (God already knows). Yes, having lots of money is a spiritual test, for monetary wealth can corrupt the soul faster than most other things. Through lots of money God is testing to see if the person will be a giving person or a greedy person. God is also testing the poor people to see if they will become givers or whiners. I have known lots of poor people who are generous givers but only a few rich people who are generous givers.

Those who struggle with anger will find many opportunities to get angry. God does not make it easy for them by shielding them from those situations, rather He keeps testing them to see if they really want Him and His way or not.

Most men possess a very strong sex-drive, yet many men cannot fully satisfy those needs in a way that pleases God because they are single, divorcees, widowers, or their wife is sick, etc. But God still expects them to be faithful to His commands; having a sexual affair is not excusable. This too is a test from God.

Many women struggle with insecurity. I believe that insecurity is for women what lust is for men – it is a very common challenge that few of them gain victory over. This too is a test from God. He says, “Will you trust me, fully trust me?”

What I am saying is that homosexual desires fall into the same category. I get the fact that some people actually have some DNA of the opposite gender in their bodies. They are not forced to go that direction. It is a test, not an excuse.

A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

If a person who has mixed up DNA sees it as a test, it can help them remember that theirs is not a hopeless case, and God never allows a test that they cannot pass (see I Corinthians 10:13).

Americans have heard for a long time that homosexuality is something unavoidable for people who are “born that way.” I believe that having mixed DNA does not mean being born homosexual; there is no direct link between the two. A homosexual lifestyle is not forced upon them; it is something they choose.

I believe that part of the cause of homosexuality is how one chooses to respond to abuse, emotional pain, disappointment, frustration, etc. To them their choice feels natural, but they don’t realize that by earlier choices regarding pain and hardship they have set themselves up to desire sexual tendencies that are not naturally part of God’s design. How so? They are seeking relief from inner pain in any way other than turning to God.

Some people in our culture today are saying that anyone can choose what gender they want to be or which sexual orientation they desire. They still believe that certain people are “born that way”; but they are also saying all of us have a choice and they imply that many more should choose homosexuality. It is true that people can indeed choose that option, but not without consequences. By consequences I am referring to both the consequences God assigns to acts that are contrary to His will, and natural consequences of taking too much risk. Those who wish to promote the homosexual lifestyle usually leave out any mention of the word “sin”, the consequences of sin, God’s design for us, or the blessings of following God’s design.

The next lesson for all my series on covenants is:WAS GOD HARDER ON HOMOSEXUALITY THAN OTHER SEXUAL SINS?