The spontaneous diagenesis which occurs after death of an organism results in hydrolysis of the peptide bonds in proteins and racemization of the amino acid residues. The extent of racemization of amino acids has therefore been suggested as a potential dating method for samples containing proteins, such as marine sediments. In order for the method to be useful, however, three general requirements must be met: (1) the environmental conditions since deposition must be known; (2) the experimental method must provide accurate quantitative data concerning the extent of racemization which has occurred; (3) the mechanism of diagenesis must be known under the environmental conditions. The problems associated with each of these topics are discussed in detail. The existing data are then reinterpreted in a teleological framework and shown to be in agreement with the Genesis account of a worldwide flood.