From: Richard McGough (richard@biblewheel.com)
Date: Mon Jul 28 2003 - 14:47:26 EDT
Hi Jim, you wrote:
>Isn't there an underlying definitional question here as to what might
>constitute the very simplest expression of life (or perhaps its
>necessary precursor)?
Yes, I think this is a very important question. Could we agree on non-parasitic DNA replicators? This would avoid the question of viruses which use living cells for replication and may well be properly considered non-animate machines rather than life (though I certainly could be wrong on this).
>Assuming (for the moment) that this transition
>from inanimate to animate did occur somewhere sometime, what might have
>been the first manifestation that (slightly?) differentiates the new
>kind of thing from the old? What might confirm the speculation of one
>who thinks this transition did occur? What would have to be observed to
>change the mind of one who does not?
>
>Jim Armstrong
>
I am not questioning whether the "transition" occurred. I am questioning whether the transition occurred as the result of the equations of motion applicable to the non-animate system before it came to life.
As for what the transition would look like ... well, I wish I were a biochemist. I don't know what precursers to DNA we should expect, and what kind of irreducible complexity might be involved in the transition from a mechanical collection of molecules to a living cell. I would be very interested in the details if someone wants to share them.
Richard Amiel McGough
Discover the sevenfold symmetric perfection of the Holy Bible at http://www.BibleWheel.com
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