Abiogenesis
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The term "Evolution" is often incorrectly assumed as being an exclusive definition of "biological evolution". | The term "Evolution" is often incorrectly assumed as being an exclusive definition of "biological evolution". | ||
| − | + | ''Wikipedia notes that'': | |
| − | "Molecular evolution is the process of evolution at the scale of | + | *"Molecular evolution is the process of evolution at the scale of |
| − | DNA, RNA, and proteins." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_evolution | + | DNA, RNA, and proteins." <ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_evolution</ref> |
| − | + | ''With...'' | |
| − | "DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used | + | *"DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used |
in the development and functioning of all known living organisms | in the development and functioning of all known living organisms | ||
| − | and some viruses." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA | + | and some viruses." <ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA</ref> |
| − | + | ''And then...'' | |
| − | http://www.evolutionofdna.com/Evolution-Of-DNA.html | + | <ref>http://www.evolutionofdna.com/Evolution-Of-DNA.html</ref> |
This is an area of heated debate. But, evolution, in these terms, creates life (abiogenesis) through molecular and chemical evolution into DNA, RNA and proteins. This is the heavy-lifting which leads to the eventual living cell. (Acknowledged huge technical gap there.) | This is an area of heated debate. But, evolution, in these terms, creates life (abiogenesis) through molecular and chemical evolution into DNA, RNA and proteins. This is the heavy-lifting which leads to the eventual living cell. (Acknowledged huge technical gap there.) | ||
Revision as of 01:52, 4 July 2009
Abiogenesis is the process by which a living organism arises naturally from non-living matter. Scientists speculate that life may have arisen as a result of a lightning strike in a primordial soup consisting of all kinds of interesting organic molecules floating around in the shallow warm seas of the primitive earth. Experiments have demonstrated that these conditions can produce some complex molecules that could be considered the "building blocks of life", but so far no experiment has produced life itself. Give those crazy scientists a half billion or so years to play,[1] though, and they might do just as well as nature once did!
Contents |
Evolution and abiogenesis
Abiogenesis and evolution are two different things. The theory of evolution says absolutely nothing about the origin of life. It merely describes the processes which take place once life has started up. There may also be multiple pathways to producing naturally occuring "life". Depending, of course, on the definition of life.
This is something that Ben Stein is apparently willfully ignorant of.
However, biological evolution (also referred to as "Darwinian evolution") is just one aspect of the full evolutionary process. Molecular and chemical evolution also takes place. Within these evolutionary paths is the event of abiogenesis. The term "Evolution" is often incorrectly assumed as being an exclusive definition of "biological evolution".
Wikipedia notes that:
- "Molecular evolution is the process of evolution at the scale of
DNA, RNA, and proteins." [2]
With...
- "DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used
in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses." [3]
And then... [4]
This is an area of heated debate. But, evolution, in these terms, creates life (abiogenesis) through molecular and chemical evolution into DNA, RNA and proteins. This is the heavy-lifting which leads to the eventual living cell. (Acknowledged huge technical gap there.)
Artificial abiogenesis
Craig Venter claims to be on the point of being able to insert a wholly artificial chromosome into a bacterial cell and thus create the first artificial life form. While not complete and natural abiogenesis it certainly moves a long way in that direction.[5]
Creationists and abiogenesis
Certain creationists correctly point out that abiogenesis must have taken place at some point to begin the process of evolution. They then attempt to use this premise to "disprove" evolution, claiming that Francesco Redi disproved abiogenesis in 1668.
In fact, Redi did no such thing. He only proved that maggots do not form spontaneously on hunks of raw meat.
The fact that the original organisms posited by abiogenesis are of the kingdom Archaea (and are therefore significantly less complicated than maggots), and that they had millions (or billions) of years on a planetary surface full of organic molecules that was being constantly bombarded by cosmic rays and racked by volcanic eruptions during which to arise, does apparently not occur to most creationists. This leads to stupid ideas like the Peanut Butter Argument[6].
In the 1950s, several experiments by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey proved that the natural formation of amino acids, components of DNA, and other organic compounds out of inorganic materials was possible under the atmospheric conditions of Primordial Earth. [7]
Oil
Oil is now understood to be biogenic in origin, not abiogenic. A hypothesis that oil was abiogenic in origin was popular in the Soviet Union until the 1980s. The abiogenic origin hypothesis proposed that oil formation results from chemical reactions taking place within the earth, and that oil is thus continually replenished and not a fossil fuel. A few (astronomer Thomas Gold until his 2004 death, and Jack Kenney) have continued to promote the abiogenic origin hypothesis.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Because that's roughly how long it took to form those initial molecules after things cooled down a bit
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_evolution
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA
- ↑ http://www.evolutionofdna.com/Evolution-Of-DNA.html
- ↑ http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/oct/06/genetics.climatechange
- ↑ http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ab476a318839606743bd
- ↑ http://www.issol.org/miller/miller1953.pdf