Shouldn’t Eve Have Been A Clone Of Adam?
Bodie Hodge,
M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical
Authority Ministries, May 3, 2025 (Donate)
With the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA in 1953, the field of genetics grew exponentially. Our understanding of traits, genes, inheritance, and biology in general advanced at an unprecedented rate.
As technology intelligently advanced, so did our grasp of
genetics—XX for female and XY for male. Building on these achievements,
scientists postulated the concept of cloning. A clone is an identical copy
created based on the DNA of an individual.
Theoretically, it is possible to build another identical
individual because the original DNA contains all the coded information
necessary to create a duplicate. With the proper technology, one could make an
exact copy—barring any errors in the process.
For example, if you wanted to create a copy of Mr. T (who
starred in The A-Team as B.A. Baracus), you would need DNA from the
original Mr. T. Similarly, to replicate Dwight Schultz (who played “Howling Mad”
Murdock on The A-Team), you would need DNA from him. I know what you’re
thinking—do we need two Murdocks? Of course, we could always use another
Murdock!
Cloning became a reality in 1996 when Scottish scientists
cloned a sheep named “Dolly,” making headlines worldwide. However, there were
complications with Dolly. This milestone sparked ongoing ethical debates
surrounding cloning.
An intriguing new question arose for biblical
creationists in light of this research. In Genesis, Eve was made from
Adam’s flesh and bone (rib, side), according to Genesis 2:21–23. This raises
the question: shouldn’t Eve have been a clone of Adam—an identical replica?
According to modern cloning principles, one might expect Eve
to be another “Adam”—male and physically identical to him.
However, what some overlook is that we’re talking about an
all-knowing, all-powerful God! When we examine the creation of the woman (Eve),
we see that God took Adam’s rib (Hebrew: tsela) and built a new person
with an entirely new DNA strand. This wasn’t simply a cloned cell implanted
into an ovum to gestate.
Instead, God brought forth Eve—a fully formed adult woman—by
His creative power. This occurred during Creation Week. God used dust to create
Adam and used Adam’s rib and flesh to create Eve. For an omnipotent
God, this is no challenge.
Thus, Eve wasn’t a clone, but her material and life
originated from Adam. We know she wasn’t a clone because she was female, per
Scripture, possessing a different chromosome pair (XX vs. Adam’s
XY). In fact, by modern standards, it’s easier to create a woman from a
man’s DNA—since the X chromosome already exists in the man. Creating a man from
a woman, who lacks a Y chromosome, would be more complex. Nevertheless,
Scripture states that the woman was made for the man (1 Corinthians 11:9).
If Eve had the same DNA as Adam, they would both be male.
But God intervened and uniquely created Eve and her DNA to be just as distinct
as Adam’s. This means both were special creations—made in the image of an
eternal God, with eternal value. God embedded the genetic diversity required to
give rise to the various people groups seen today, right from the beginning.
Whether you resemble Mr. T, Dwight Schultz, or exhibit other
variations in skin tone, height, or eye shape, we all carry genetic material
originally created by God in Adam and Eve. Although we also have genetic
mutations and glitches since sin and the curse in Genesis 3. Nevertheless, God
gave humanity an incredible capacity for beautiful variation through
generations. Thus, we are all related—and all in need of Jesus Christ to save
us from our sin, regardless of what we
look like.
Based on material I had originally written here: https://answersingenesis.org/adam-and-eve/shouldnt-eve-have-been-a-clone-of-adam/;
Expanded; Republished by permission.
