I am not a scientist and have no comprehension of big medical terms. I just want to basically answer someone who asks: "Did Jesus have Mary's DNA?" The question has arisen.
Thanks for your question Huck. I have a study series that answers your question with great simplicity and detail. It was written so that the average person would not have trouble understanding the topic.
Let me start by giving you some basics since you want to be able to answer somebody’s’ question about the DNA of Jesus. The study of DNA is categorized as genetics; genetics studies how heredity works, particularly the study of genes. A gene is a section of a long deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule, and it carries information for the production of a protein or part of a protein. Through the collection of proteins they code for, genes influence or determine such characteristics as eye, skin, hair color and texture and even personality and behavioral characteristics. A person’s genetic makeup also influences weaknesses and defects in the body; this makes one’s offspring predisposed to certain diseases, such as glaucoma and heart failure.
As in all other life forms, the DNA found in human cells encodes the proteins that are essential for reproduction, survival, and growth. The creation of a human requires an estimated 50,000 genes. Units of wrapped DNA are called nucleosomes, and they coil and fold into structures called chromosomes.
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes Huck. In each pair, one chromosome comes from the mother and the other from the father. Twenty-two of the pairs are the same in both men and women, and these are called autosomes. The twenty-third pair consists of the sex chromosomes, so called because they are the primary factor in determining the gender of a child.
The sex chromosomes are known as the X and Y-chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The Y chromosome is about one-third the size of the X chromosome. A sperm, the reproductive cell produced by the male, can carry either one X or one Y chromosome.
An egg, the reproductive cell produced by the female, can carry only the X chromosome.
Before you can explain whether Mary’s DNA was passed onto Jesus, you should understand a little more about DNA. Mitochondria are DNA passed only thru the female on from one generation to the next. Mitochondria enable the body to aerobically respirate and without mitochondria human tissue would be unable to sustain its metabolic pathway. Living cells constantly multiply and divide through a series of complex conversions and each cellular change generates considerable heat in the body. Without adequate mitochondria, these living cells would rapidly overheat during the millions of metabolic changes taking place at any given moment in time, generating enough heat to literally boil our blood.
Mitochondria make up an estimated 31,000 of the nearly 50,000 cells in each human body. During intercourse and conception, male mitochondria are stored in the tail of the male sperm cells; female mitochondria are stored inside the female ova (egg). A sperm cell resembles a tiny tadpole and the tail of the sperm cell is where mitochondrial DNA is located. During the process of insemination hundreds of tiny sperm cells swim down the woman’s fallopian tubes in hopes of finding fertile an ova (egg) to penetrate. Once the head of the sperm cell penetrates the outer wall of the ova, the tail of the male sperm breaks off and along with it all the male mitochondria dies.
Only the head of the sperm cell makes its way through the outer membrane of the woman’s egg. If the egg is fertile, life immediately begins, as the sperm cell and egg join and then begin to multiply and divide into living cells of human tissue, and a zygote is formed, which eventually develops the fetal tissue into a baby in the womb. The baby will only possess the mitochondria inherited from the woman’s egg. This explains why the genetic pathway of DNA (mitochondria) can only be traced through the woman and not through the man, a well-known fact in forensic science.
Thus you can see it was necessary for Jesus to possess the mitochondria DNA of Mary, otherwise his human body would not have the capacity to continue living. It is IMPOSSIBLE for any human being to be conceived or live without the female mitochondria. This process of life has continued since the beginning of mankind when God first created the man (Adam) and from his side the woman (Eve) and they conceived children. Adam’s wife was given the name, “Eve,” which means, “life giver,” was appropriately named because God the Creator who formed Eve from the man’s side knew that, “her seed,” was necessary to pass on life; this “seed” referred to Eve’s female mitochondrial DNA (See Genesis 3:15).
Eve is the life giver because only her female seed (ova) passes on the mitochondria DNA cells to her future offspring during conception. Think of mitochondria as the “life” cells of the body; without these cells the human race would have died out altogether. The man’s mitochondria is not passed on, as described earlier; it dies together with the severed tail of the sperm cell that penetrates the female egg.
Just so you are aware Huck, there are many other types of DNA besides mitochondria. For example, both the man and the woman pass on hereditary characteristics to their offspring through DNA cells known as alleles, which play an integral part in determining things like skin, eye and hair color. Alleles are one of two or more alternative forms of a gene, occupying the same position (locus) on paired chromosomes and controlling the same inherited characteristic; alleles are also called allelomorph.
God the Father is the Creator (aka Yahweh or Elohim in the OT); He is spirit and His existence is not composed of flesh and blood (See John 4:23-24). This is an important part of the discussion about Jesus’ DNA because there is no such thing as “divine blood” as purported by some Christians. It is popular amongst Christian authors and some theologians to refer to the blood of Jesus as being “divine” in origin. A great percentage of Christendom believes and promulgates the notion that unless Christ shed the blood of Deity, his sacrifice is altogether worthless, and is no better than that of a mere mortal.
Jesus’ blood was every bit as human as yours’ Huck; he was made like his brethren in all ways (Hebrews 2:17-18). Just as we partake of flesh and blood, so did Jesus. His sacrifice WAS that of a human; his blood spilled was that of the spotless (unblemished) Lamb of God. As a MAN Jesus lived a sinless life, and as a man, he offered himself as a perfect sacrificial atonement.
Hebrews 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He (Jesus) Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. NAS
God chose to implant in Mary’s virgin ovum a Y chromosome, which He created at conception all by Himself. In so doing God the Father bypassed whatever defective genetic weakness would have been passed on through the Adamic (male) heredity genes (i.e. – alleles).
Since alleles are the part of heredity (DNA) affecting human behavioral characteristics, one could speculate that a mutation took place within the allelic structure of Adam’s DNA the moment he sinned and God said, “Cursed is the ground because of you.”
Romans 5:12,15-17, 19, 21 Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, no one being able to stop it or to escape its power because all men sinned... many died through one man's falling away (his lapse, his offense)… For the sentence following the trespass of one man brought condemnation… because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one… by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners… sin has reigned in death. AMP
When the ground was cursed because of Adam’s willful act of disobedience, the male Y chromosome was negatively impacted. The male gene no longer held its prominence in the genetic structure and it became a meager 1/3 the size of the female X chromosome. Geneticists believe the male Y gene is continually decreasing in size, but this erroneous presumption is fueled in large part by the theory of evolution, holding that the human species is slowly devolving thru mutation into a different kind of life form.
Defective DNA was the result of Adam’s transgression after he disobeyed God’s commandment not to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned Adam that if he partook of the forbidden knowledge in that very “day” he would surely, “die.” So it happened that when Adam sinned his physical body DID experience a mutation because his male mitochondria DNA structure was altered, making it impossible for him to pass his “life” genes on to his offspring thru conception.
Genesis 3:14-15 And the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all domestic animals and above every wild living thing of the field; upon your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust and what it contains all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and her Offspring (seed); He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel.” AMP
After Lucifer betrayed God in the Garden of Eden, the LORD told the serpent that the woman’s seed (Eve’s DNA) would “bruise” his head. This is positive proof there was a negative alteration of the MALE human mitochondria DNA structure thru the introduction of evil. However, God left the FEMALE human mitochondria DNA structure unaltered in order that the human species could live and regenerate long enough for Him to find just the right ovum in just the right virgin (Mary) at just the right time. This He created His only “begotten” son Jesus, passing onto him untainted male alleles and mitochondria needed to help shape Jesus’ relationship with God. Without the Adamic genetic defect his personality was like that of both his mother (Mary) and his Father (God), making Jesus more sensitive to the Spirit.
Raised in a godly home by Joseph and Mary, Jesus learned obedience in the things he suffered, growing in wisdom and in favor with God and man, which from the age of twelve onward he did thru the spiritual strength he was able to draw from his relationship with God the Father. Finally, Jesus was made perfect (complete) in character to be presented as a perfect human sacrifice for sin and then raised up and glorified by God to be the redeemer of mankind and the only mediator between God and man.
The New Testament confirms Jesus as the “seed” of the woman but includes the role of the Father God in his conception, birth, life, death and resurrection.
Galatians 3:13-16 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"-- 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. NAS
The “seed” of the woman (i.e. - Eve the “life-giver”) materialized genetically by being passed on to generations through the female gender in mitochondrial DNA… until the fulness of time came. In other words, God used the woman’s mitochondrial DNA (i.e. – Eve’s seed) to continue the human lifeline, which enabled Him to eventually procreate in the womb of Mary.
Ephesians 1:10 He planned for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, both things in heaven and things on the earth. AMP
Galatians 4:4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to the regulations of the Law. AMP
At the predetermined time God’s promise of a “seed” (singular) that would bruise the head of the serpent, found its TRUE mark through the work of the Spirit. The power of the Most High enveloped the virgin Mary in a haze of brilliancy, procreating in her a son.
God created a sperm cell with a Y chromosome and alleles untainted with Adamic behavioral traits.
God may have even taken procreation to the next level by restoring this one sperm cell’s mitochondria and locating it in the head of the sperm instead of the tail. This is only a theory, but it is not outside the bounds of scientific possibility. In fact, since mitochondria are the “life” cells of the human body, and God the Father is the very Author of “life” it is HIGHLY PROBABLE Jesus was the byproduct of both female AND male mitochondria.
Since scientists have no way of genetically duplicating (cloning) male and female mitochondria to produce human offspring, such a theory will remain a hypothesis until we get to the other side of eternity or until more knowledge emerges according to God’s plan. He has said in the last days knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:3-4).
As noted previously mitochondria DNA is vital in humans to maintain the metabolic pathway, enabling the cells of human tissue to aerobically respirate. However, the original function of Adam’s mitochondria DNA prior to his willful introduction of evil into the human gene pool was tied in some way to his interactive intimacy with the “life” of God’s spirit.
Like all humans, at conception, Jesus inherited the mitochondrial DNA of his mother Mary. Unlike any other human conceived Jesus also received the male mitochondria during the insemination of Mary’s ova. God the Father insured the male mitochondria would be stored in the HEAD of the unique sperm cell He created in Mary’s fallopian tubes.
The combination of both male and female mitochondria during conception would supply Jesus with a sense of “life” within that enhanced the connection between his human spirit and his human flesh. Having both sets of mitochondrial DNA made Jesus a complete human being, not lacking anything the first Adam had before he sinned.
This unique conception by God the Father furnished His only begotten son with a hypersensitivity to the things of the spirit. With the proper guidance from his earthly parents, particularly Joseph, who would teach him about the Scriptures and spiritual things, Jesus could and would develop and maintain an intimate connection between his human spirit and God’s spirit.
Just as Adam talked with God in the Garden of Eden, Jesus did likewise. His genetic make up enabled him to have vibrant interaction between his human soul and spirit and his human body, including his feelings and emotions. Being whole and complete genetically gave Jesus the innate ability to perpetually sense (i.e. – feel) the presence of his Father God.
To rephrase the paragraph above and make it more understandable, the mitochondrial DNA created by God the Father united with the mitochondria supplied by Mary’s egg, thereby conceiving Jesus and giving him unique sensitivity in his physical body to feel (sense) the life of God’s spirit and presence.
John 5:26-27, 30 “For even as the Father has life in Himself and is self-existent, so He has given to the son to have life in himself and be self-existent. 27 And He has given him authority and granted him power to execute (exercise, practice) judgment because He is a Son of man… 5:30 I am able to do nothing from myself independently, of my own accord--but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders. Even as I hear, I judge I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision, and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will; I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose, but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.” AMP
To bolster his innate abilities Jesus inherited the alleles of his mother, a godly woman and the alleles created by his Father, who is God. While we know the alleles help determine hair, skin and eye color, they also predispose human behavioral characteristics. Jesus could feel his Father’s spiritual presence in a way only found in a father-son relationship. Jesus’ mitochondrial and his allelic DNA make-up must have given God’s only begotten son an innate aptitude or an “edge” enabling him to communicate in his human spirit with his heavenly Father in a way only the first Adam experienced before he sinned. In the very literal sense this “edge” was not subject to the allelomorphic (hereditary) behavioral characteristics (i.e. – the bent toward & preference for sin).
Allelomorphic heredity involves both physical and behavioral characteristics and could be described as the key factor, which gave Jesus the innate desire to listen for and immerse himself in the things of the spirit. This is not some far-fetched theory that cannot be substantiated with the scripture. All of the prophets and seers in the Bible were men and women born with a keen sense or inner ability to move with liberty in the realm of the spirit. You can read more about this in the link I provided for you Huck.
I hope you found this explanation helpful. Feel free to write again.
In service to God thru His son Jesus,
Craig L. Bluemel - The Bible Answer Stand Ministry
Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do so courteously & respectfully. 1 Peter 3:15