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Alan speaks in a very symbolic and esoteric manner in some parts of his books. Although they can be read anthroposophically, passages speaking of Atlantis, archangels, gods, etc. do not need to be taken literarily to be meaningful. The more you read, the more you will realize he uses many different religions to express ideas in a symbolic manner and not in a religious manner. His writings are not religious. In some places his writings are meant to refer to religious events in a historical way. In some places he is using religious figures (from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism, Ancient Roman and Greek Religions, etc.) in a symbolic manner. However, at no point is he promoting a specific religion or speaking from a religious point of view.
I have kept the writing as close to one-hundred percent original so you will also find that he speaks of Australia often and some spelling or manners of speaking may be cultural. Any words I have changed are presented like this: <word>.
Also keep in mind that these books are written by a Waldorf teacher with decades of experience who also studied with a Steiner student himself, so he speaks to an audience that is dedicating their lives to the Waldorf method without exception.
Because of this, all of his views are not reflected in the Earthschooling curriculum and not all of them may be ones you want to embrace or are able to use. In all of Alan Whitehead’s writings the opinions are his own and may not align with Earthschooling or Waldorf Books. In some cases, we will be updating some of these chapters in the future with additional and/or updated information.
Ultimately, however, as I read through these passages I find I can distill wisdom from even those paragraphs that do not resonate with me.
We invite you to read with an open mind and heart and with eagerness to learn and discuss…
WHY XY? WHY NOT YX?
Genetics – Class 12 – Main Lesson
Nature has conducted successful genetic engineering for eons; carefully selecting qualities in living organisms which will enable survival in specific environments. Many human communities have emulated this in animal breeding, such as cattle selection. These changes to organisms are locked into the genetic structure present in every cell, and as such pass it onto succeeding generations. The greatest enigma, beyond the miracle of Life itself, is that the human being is capable of rising above the tyranny of genetics – with the power of Individuality.
According to Steiner, the more this “I Am” aspect is present in a person, the less w/he actually looks – and behaves – like the parents. Man is the most complex biological phenomenon on earth, and as far as we know, in the entire universe! Steiner biology considers man to be physically complete, perfect in fact. Our physical bodies are not capable of further significant evolutionary change, rather a devolution of materiality has been operative since the Event of Golgotha – a return to the Spirit.
As well as being an integral physical and behavioral unit, man is also 2-fold, having a distinct front and back – left and right – top and bottom. These are the ‘sic direction’ as artistically and therapeutically expressed in Eurythmy – the 7th, to attain perfection, is within. Man is also a 3-old being of nerves/senses – rhythmic/respiratory – and circulatory/metabolic. We also have four physical divisions – head, thorax, abdomen, limbs. Then we are also 7-fold in function: exocrine; skeletal; muscular; endocrine; respiratory; circulatory; metabolic; nervous.
Finally in anatomical terms, rather that physiological, we are 12-fold beings: head; neck; upper limbs; upper thorax; lower thorax; upper abdomen; lower abdomen; genetalia; thighs; knees; calves; feet. These are related to the zodiac, not only in Steiner understanding, but conventional astrology as well (one of the few things the latter gets right actually!) The skull is Aries, then down through Taurus neck – to feet Pisces.
Aristotle believed that semen, the mere transporter of the sperm, the true hereditary factor, was purified blood. As all body tissue and liquid is a variation of a theme based on the genetic code in every cell, he was essentially correct. The father of modern genetic science was Gregor Mendel, and Austrian who in 1865 (while Steiner was a 4-year-old in the same are!) outlined the fundamental principles of heredity. For this he used the humble garden pea, which led to the discovery of the substance forming its genealogical basis, deoxyribonucleic acid – DNA!
The structure of protein was found by 1951; the genetic code, that by which DNA is translated into protein, was discovered in 1953 by Watson and Crick. They found that the function of most genes is to direct synthesis of enzymes (proteins). The genetic code was further elucidated in the 1960s, and DNA sequencing began in the late 1970s. In this period also the first human genes were isolated. By 1986 DNA sequencing was automated, and by 1995 the first whole genome of a bacterium was sequenced; the first human chromosome was successfully sequenced in 1999, but by 2002 they hope to sequence the human genome.
But back to Mendel: he found that genetic traits are of four kinds – 1. Dominant; this is always expressed in an individual, like the woolly hair of black Africans. 2. Recessive; these are subordinate to the dominant, such as some Australian Aborigines having blond hair. 3. Intermediate; these genes are only partly expressed, like brother and sisters having a mix of straight and wavy hair. 4. Polygenic is an expression of multiple genes, like blond and dark hair on a single person.
In relation to straight, wavy and curly; in the first, the single hair has an elliptical section, an etheric dominance, such as oriental people surely have. With curly hair the section is circular, a physical body expression; and with wavy, a combination of both; an astral manifestation. There is even crinkly hair, with a slight square section, an ego form! Whatever, all these traits are either sex-linked to the X chromosome, or autosomal, the result of action of a gene on other than the above.
DNA is made up of four nucleotides arranged in pairs like rungs in a ladder The order of these pairs is the genetic code; human DNA contains about three billion of these pairs; whereas the single chromosome 22 contains 33 million pairs. Researchers make life easier for themselves by breaking the DNA up into fragments containing about 150,000 pairs. Today the sequence of pairs in each fragment is determined using sophisticated machines. The results are then combined to attain the sequence of the whole chromosome.
Human chromosomes (‘color body’) were only discovered when cell nucleus material was squashed under glass. This led to observations on mutations in bacteria (because they breed so rapidly). Synthetic genes can be made by joining components in correct sequence.
The Seven Worlds of the Double Helix are: 1. Classical genetic science is the mainstream area of research, and embraces synthesis of knowledge of all other fields. 2. Cytogenetics studies the hereditary functions of cells. 3. Molecular genetics focuses on the structure of the molecule (especially the DNA). 4. Population genetics researches factors in groups of living creatures, like animal breeding, wildlife protection and pest control. 5. Behavioral Genetics attempts to relate the code to psychological phenomena in both animals and man 6. Microbial Genetics confines its area of study to the bacterial/viral field, where similar laws prevail. 7. Human Genetics explores all areas of the mystery of life which generates and sustain man; included are nutrition, medicine, and forensics.
This last has resulted in a revolution in crime detection. As I write, the NSW government is instituting laws to store genetic samples from all prisoners convicted of serious crimes. This is on the basis that most are reoffenders. DNA material has been found amazingly effective in providing evidence leading to convictions, much more so than in securing releases – to the defense lawyer’s chagrin!
Seven Worlds of Genetic Engineering. These are capable of being used to control the inheritance characteristics of organisms; some methods employed are electrical, mechanical and chemical. Genetically modified (GM) foods are the current controversy in the new science.
- Genetic Transferal removes and replaces genes from chromosomes to improve breeding stock or cure disease. This could lead to horrors like pigs with feathers.
- Mutation Generation cultivates a positive – mutated – variety to replace an existing one. In theory, a super human can be developed in this way – or an obedient one!
- Gene Suppression is used to eliminate a negative gene factor, like those causing congenital disease. The suppressing of, say, antisocial tendencies, may at the same time suppress genius.
- Gene Generation creates a new gene through an artificial mutation process; used mainly in agriculture for stock breeding.
- Gene Restructure actually changes the order of existing genes to function differently; thought to be potentially useful in the treatment of mental illness. (I’ll believe it when I see it!)
- Gene Elimination is considered a hazardous process, but is being investigated to remove unwanted tendencies, like disease, from progenitors. This could influence a person’ destiny; who may need to be born diabetic, from a higher perspective at least.
- Gene Synthetization doesn’t bear thinking about; here Dr. Moreau’s monsters would be tame compared with the humanoid and ‘other’ creations of an amoral science.
All biological manipulation infers control over life; therefore it bears with it enormous responsibility. This involves a high level of moral conduct, as the end result could conceivably wrest control of one’s very being from the individual to the clinician – or whoever.
A promising area of genetic research is in experimental breeding. Chromosome movement can be observed with methods such as mono- or dihybrids. Radioactive chemicals like thymine are used in the brave new world of science to observe factors like albinism; here genes are not active in producing melanin, the dark coloring agent in skin, eyes, and hair.
Gene Similarity is established by taking protein from ne creature, say a fruit fly, adding it to the blood of another (a guinea pig?), where it breeds antibodies (proteins). When tested on the fly it creates a cloudy mixture. If the mixture is cloudy when tested on a different kind of fly, this cloudiness determines the genetic similarity of fly 1 to fly 2.
Probability is the mathematical method most used to understand genetic function; hence predictability is statistical, not precise. As we see in boy/girl conception statistics. Cytogenetics reveals human chromosomes to number 23 pairs in each cell. This number is different for each species, for example corn has 10. This is the Haploid (‘single’) Number (n). the 23 are present in the gamete (‘marry’), the mature sex cells of both male and female. As the cell divides (mitosis, ‘thread’), one chromosome from each pair goes into each cell. When the 23 chromosomes from both dad and mum combine in the fertilized egg (zygot‘yolked’), this then has 46.
As this in turn experiences mitosis, each new multiplying cell has the same 46. The 23rd pair, the ‘sex chromosome’, determines the sex of the unborn. This is governed by the sperm, the 23rd being either XX, resulting in a girl, or XY, a boy. The generic make-up of the becoming individual can be tested at a very early stage of development by amniocentesis, the genetic testing of the amniotic fluid.
Statistically a girl is more likely to be conceived than a boy, to the ratio of 106:100 actually. However there are not more boys in the world due to there being greater boy mortality in infancy; nature’s balancing act. Thereafter girls function more strongly up to 14, then boys catch up. The figures remain 100:100 until 50 years, when the morality rate in males increases again. How will the recent leap in young male suicides affect this? A wider employment of the universal curriculum Steiner education, rather than the so-stressful external exam nonsense, would help!
It’s really hard to keep up with this subject, important genetic breakthroughs seem to occur every month, rather than every generation as in the past. This is why the moral and ethical factor is so often left in the dust of the scientific. That 1999 achievement of working out the DNA sequence of a complete human chromosome, the biological comparison of putting a man on the moon, will probably seem ho-hum by the time you read this. A blueprint of all the DNA which forms the human being is supposed to be in sight. This knowledge will lead to new drugs and therapies custom-made for people according to their genetic make-up.
This is not to diminish the similar work on plants, animals and micro-organisms – the genetic code of the malaria parasite was recently completed! This genomic explosion has led to the development of DNA ‘chips’, which can identify numerous genetic mutations in one sample, and provide advanced databases to handle the analysis of thousands of genes.
Not all humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes; there are some aberrations, with devastating results. Boys with one extra chromosome, 47 X:XXY, develop Klinefelter’s Disease, an extreme of feminism. Girls with one chromosome missing, 45 X:XO, exhibit regressed sexual development, lacking reproductive ability even. This is Turner’s Syndrome, which thankfully only occurs in 1 in 3500 girls.
Down’s Syndrome (1 in 600 children) is more common with older mothers, and occurs when there is an extra pair of autosomal chromosomes – small ones, number 21; or when there is an extra single one translocated (14). Life is not possible if there is any autosomal chromosome actually missing; however if part of number 5 is not there, the child develops the truly alarming and self-explanatory symptoms known as ‘cry of the cat’. Here the tragic victims lose all semblance of their humanity. Boys with an extra Y (XYY) gamete develop superhuman tendencies.
Human blood is the mansion of heredity, and is classified by the ABO system – A antigens, B antigens and no – O – antigens. Over 600 amino acids comprise the complex hemoglobin molecule. There are ten combinations of ABO, no more, no less. This is the number of the earth, the gnomic number, the number of the Ancient Hebrews (10 Commandments et al); those who elevate heredity issues to an obsession! The antigen factor is responsible for the formation of blood proteins.
The 10 combinations are: AAA, AAB, AAO, BBB, BBA, BBO, OOO, OOA, OOB, ABO. These ten combinations devolve into the four common blood groups, A, B, AB and O. Genetic mutations carried in blood include the RH Factor, sickle cell anemia, and hemophilia (‘blood loving’?)
There are some curiosities in blood grouping; the B group is absent in Australian Aborigines, Basques and North American Indians. This provides insight into racial realities; proving, for instance, that Aborigines are not merely misplaced Asians, but a completely separate race (the Steiner view); Basques are not Spaniards – and they’re prepared to blow up cars and markets to prove it! And North and South American Indians are a completely different race, confirming the Spiritual Science view.
The first are under the aegis of the Saturn oracle, the second that of the Sun in the post-Atlantean migrations. Conversely there is a maximum B grouping in Hindus, especially those of northern India. North American Indians, as far south as Mexico, are blood group O. Some migrationists claim that Polynesians are really Orientals; their blood group disproves this, as they have the same as that of Canadian Indians, indicating, as does Steiner, that both traveled west from Atlantis, not east.
Some mutation (cancer) causing agents are atomic radiation, ultraviolet rays, electromagnetic radiation, extra low frequency (ELFs!) radiation, castor oil, caffeine, penicillin, oxygen – in extreme amounts of course.
As in the Microbiology unit in Class 12 (earlier in this book), the DNA should be arrived at by a process of diminishment. We begin (as always in Steiner education, from the whole to the part) with the person. Then we consider one of the ‘systems’, say the respiratory; down we go to one of the single organs, the heart; which is comprised of various tissue types(muscle?). From there to the specialized cells (elongated), to the nucleus in the cell; within which are the chromosomes; which are made up of genes (athletic propensity perhaps?); within which resides the ever-mysterious DNA molecule itself.
Skin genes are amongst the easiest to study, as they express so visually in the person. These are described in a double square ‘locus’. When there is a dark and light (DL) they are ‘heterogenous’, as in a coffee-colored person. The genes are said to be ‘incompletely dominant’, evidenced by dark skin. The results are known as phenotypes.
A molecule of DNA is like a ladder, the rungs being even smaller molecules; however there are only four different types of rungs on the ladder – guanine, cytosine, adenine and thymine. These four bases make up the genetic code. This four is already the archetypal earth number, but four pops up again in the first, guanine; its chemical composition being C5H5N5O.
Extraordinarily this is the ultimate ‘four bodies’ chemical combination – carbon, physical body – hydrogen, ego – nitrogen astral body – oxygen etheric body. Not only that, but they only unite in one way, in pairs – carbon-hydrogen and nitrogen-oxygen. This is exactly as Spiritual Science teaches in relation to the respective bodies; the ego lives in the physical, and the etheric lives in the astral. The first pairing is male, the second female. These four elements of the genetic code (GC or CG and AT or TA) provide the potential for millions of computations.
The famed DNA double helix is only a construction, as it can’t actually be seen, its existence being rather deduced. The spiral form is a mathematical construction which just happens to meet all the behavior characteristics of genetic inheritance etc. Chemically it is comprised of three compounds, the sugar group, the phosphate group, both of which make up the spiral rails of the ladder. And the base pairs, the rungs.
How will the 20th Century be remembered? The Atomic Age? The Computer Age? Probably in terms of implications for the mystery of life it will be the Genetic Age. In the last two decades of the century, more advances have been made in genetic knowledge than in the whole history of science. In comparison, atomic energy seems old hat! With our manipulation of life, we have indeed realized the Tree of Knowledge promise that we will “become as gods”.
Previously life was the exclusive province of the Creator; increasingly man is invading this sanctuary, especially with the advancement of genetic technology. This brings unprecedented responsibility, not the least in the various disciplines of this Brave New World science.
Genetic Counseling is advice given on mate and offspring selection. This at best must be regarded cautiously, at worst, totally rejected; confronting the laws of karma as it does. Genetic counseling is based on biographical and genetic information, and is highly speculative, especially when psychological assumptions are drawn from physical evidence. Alarm bells should sound when genetic counseling becomes compulsory; or if it results in sexual prohibitions of various kinds.
There is already considerable genetic discrimination in society; though not to the degree of that of the sinister eugenics practiced under the Nazis. Retarded people are discouraged – in some cases prevented – from reproducing. The ugly and/or stupid have restricted financial, marriage and social opportunities. Even the education system engages in Darwinian (un)natural selection with its obsession with competition and rewards for academic or sporting excellence – with its inevitable humiliation of the losers. Even looks has its advantages in a superficial society; the beautiful being somehow pushed to the front of the line when the opportunities are handed out. And what of the morality of the eggs and sperm of models, athletes and geniuses being a hot trading item? A champion golfer could theoretically have thousands of offspring teeing off all over the world. Again only the financially advantaged can exploit this.
Moral standards must be pre-eminent in this ‘future shock’ new world. Sperm and ovum banks which allow ‘parents’ to choose the father or mother of their children may invariably want “…a girl, with blue eyes, lovely blond hair, high intelligence, and can run 100 meters under ten seconds.”! Some people freeze their own eggs for future use.
Sterilization may be forced on not only on hospitalized people, as it is now, but on a range of ‘unattractive breeders’ (not my term), say people with a rebellious disposition; eugenics at its worst.
Abortion may not only be for medical reasons, as in the discovery that the unborn baby has a congenital disease, but on any fetus considered to have undesirable traits. This is already happening when Down’s Syndrome or Dwarfism is detected in the womb. There’s nothing actually wrong with these people, they’re just different. Okay, they may require more care, but the rewards for parents – and society – of knowing these often, delightful people usually far outweigh the burdens. The most spiritually inspiring place, and often happiest, is a school for the handicapped.
This proscription has serious spiritual implications; as certain individuals must needs come into this world to be down’s, dwarf, halt lime or blind – whatever – to fulfill their destiny. Only here can they make reparations for the sins of a former life. If this is prevented, as in a society where these insidious selection techniques are sanctioned; well, who knows how these poor folk will obey Heaven’s commands?
As workers with these children and adults know, they all have their own unique individuality; a specifically spiritual quality, rarely if ever considered by the scientific fraternity. The higher mission of the disable, whether physical or mental, is to bring love into the world. It’s hard to cultivate this sublime faculty if everyone is superhuman! I can admire my favorite, seemingly perfect, movie stars, but there’s usually too much envy in the mis to truly love them.
Frozen embryos are already forcing the debate, not only medical and ethical, but legal, in relation to ownership; or whether an unfertilized egg is a human being. If that’s the case, my wife gives birth to a bonny, if infinitesimally minute, baby every 28 days! In Steiner understanding, the ego – the individual -enters the fetus in the third month.
Invitro fertilization provides maximum access to manipulate the sex chromosomes. An example is one-parent cloning. Here a woman artificially impregnates a female XX egg with her own X chromosome. Dolly the sheep in high heels! In fact the latest theory is that the Y chromosome is a relatively late aberration; early in evolution there were only females. This is now again possible with the genetic invasion of the shrine of life.
The latest craze is DNA parties; but I imagine it is the more ordinary variety that contributes to the scandal that 1 in 12 children have different (unsuspecting!) fathers than appear on their birth certificates. This 8% was discovered by blood testing a large control group of families.
Fertility drugs already have an unenvious reputation for creating chaos in the reproductive process, with the many multiple births and so on. The implications for the child cannot be known till adulthood, or old age even. Actually ‘chaos’ is the operative word according to Steiner, who said that it is this factor in the egg, this formlessness in the albumen, which allows the Spirit to enter at conception.
Some external control on breeding is justifiable, incest for instance, or underage exploitation. Even n-breeding has its advantages. (Who else could live there?!) this is an Ahrimanic influence; reducing human beings to animals. Outbreeding, or race mixing, is instead Michaelian, the vision of the future being coffee-colored, where race diminishes and universal humanity flourishes.
Other areas of Applied Genetics are artificial insemination, contraception, menopausal hormone replacement therapy, and hosts of other practices. All have moral questions hovering over them. After all Mendel had impressive moral credentials, officially at least, being an Augustinian monk as he was. Mind you he did fail biology at school. (there’s hope for us all in this arcane science!) Though human morality cannot be applied to animals, which actually benefit, for instance, from Mendel’s First Law; the Principle of Segregation. This states that, statistically a black and a white rabbit will breed equal amounts of white and black rabbits.
An esoteric it allis; chromosomes have an energy base which is visible only at the moment they reproduce. As in the many other Lilliputian worlds this is known only under the microscope. So genetics too is fraught with distortions, as Dr. Steiner warned. One of the worst areas of illusion is that of extrapolating animal experiments onto humans. Because a mouse fails to develop, say, ovarian cancer under certain influences, this does not necessarily mean that a woman won’t.
Michaelian also is a quality of the one word left out of most genetic considerations – love, as in lovemaking. Sexual love is a bridge to a higher kind, divine love, where the wisdom of genetics originates. It is on this lofty note that we conclude this last Biology main lesson, indeed the very last Science main lesson of 36 through the 12 years of school. It is only through the power of love that science will be redeemed. Only in this way can it take its rightful place, morally untarnished, in the Family of Man.
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