Quote:
Originally Posted by DocIllinois
The folding of polypeptides into proteins is an example of self assembly, among other things already observed. I, too, am wondering about the absence of life condition.
|
GC & Doc - Yous guys are raising a couple of interesting questions - the ol' chicken or the egg conundrum.
The lipids and other macromolecules that are involved are the same that are found in living organisms. So, did they arise from life or did they initiate primitive life? This is truly a matter for conjecture. Finding these very same building blocks in comets and meteors suggests that they have an extraterrestrial origin. Still that leaves open the question, are they from life elsewhere? We simply don't know for sure.
Having said that, I believe either is a possibility. But I will take the POV that these building blocks arise universally from abiotic chemistry and that they are very common throughout the universe. When the conditions are right (temperature, pressure, presence of water, etc.) they organize in predicable ways and rudimentary life arises. (Doc, the laws of nature are universal constants and do not vary.) How far this goes depends on the environment and a myriad factors of chance.
For instance intelligent life arising, IMO, is not a given - more likely an accident. In my view it is entirely possible that we are the most advanced life-form in the universe. Taking this view, leads to a very, very humbling philosophy. And hence, why I said that, based upon the genetic engineering example I mentioned, that intelligent design is a fact. That intelligence is us! Think about it.