[meteorite-list] THE ODDS OF LIFE

[MexicoDoug at aol.com]

Sterling W. wrote:

>The key has to be that the creation of life was NOT a  random
>process. For every molecule that fits a template, millions did  not.
>That's a selective mechanism, not a random one. If you allow a  strong
>selective effect at every step instead of random chance, it's done  in
>short order, IF there is a preferred pathway.
 
Hola Sterling, The answer you seek has been mostly written...If you have  the 
time, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book and meandering  
through its delightful respect for the accomplishments of biology, but at  the same 
time, its brazen and bold disregard for the groupthink in the  field.  The 
implications are more limited by your imagination than the  pages upon which it 
is written!  
"The Origins of Order: Self-Organization and Selection in Evolution"
by  Stuart Kauffman
 
What is "primitive" life other than a continuous process, soap  bubble-like 
filled micelle of catalysts with linked reactant  intermediates?  And is it any 
wonder at all that such bags of plasm form,  considering they are the 
structures, by definition [of life], with the  property of non-equilibrium 
homeostasis, after countless other reactions, well -  react, i.e.,"die".
 
We've glorified primitive life to religious proportions, yet I think  it is 
much an overrated miracle.  While you wait for that landmark  discovery that 
life evolved or can be made to evolve more than once  (whether it comes from out 
of this world of from our own Earth right under our  noses), an accepting 
humanity will take it in stride, go to work tomorrow, still  elect lousy 
politicians, and folks like us will need to find new topics to stay  happily 
entertained just over the edge of chaos.
 
What surprises me is your take on the significance of a  confirmation of a 
so-far hypothetical confirmation of panspermia.  While  you seem fine with the 
possibility of seeding life throughout the universe, you  think it doesn't do 
much except transfer the "problem" of creation  elsewhere.  While this may be 
true, I believe the sheepdogs have tricked  you into drinking from their 
tainted watering hole.
 
Did you know that your own red blood cells lack DNA and are anaerobic  
(utilizing glucose and no oxygen in solution, not aerobic (Krebs cycle)  respiration 
to generate energy)?  Your red cells are alive,  right?  Really, finding 
(viruses), bacteria, yeasts, perhaps fungi and  other primitive bags of reactants 
developing elsewhere with at least RNA won't  solve THE QUESTION to forgetful 
and greedy human satisfaction, as THE  QUESTION has become somewhat of a 
moving target.  It used to be:  What started life on Earth?
 
Think about human nature - so accepting (as long as not under threat by  
killer alien microbes)  I say we best learn to solve the simple harmonic  
oscillator problem before asking questions of the Gods around the Universe and  stick 
to this original question.  Not that a foray into a  generalized THE QUESTION 
isn't entertaining and informative - it  is. But if we take the attitude of 
minimizing the significance of the  problems and true progress which is within 
our grasp and possibly  during our lifetime, we'll just remain an unsatisfied 
bunch.  Ah, the  destiny of human spirit:(
 
Getting back to proving the Andromeda Strain that spontaneously appeared in  
another galaxy ... sure it'll cause a bigger impact than Surveyor 3's bacteria 
 which could have survived on the Moon for a few years.  But how much  
bigger?  Don't hold your breath.  A bag of cytoplasm proven to have  been hatched in 
a far off galaxy will not impress the average person on the  street any more 
than one bug delivered ambiguously on a meteorite.   Afterall we've known you 
can deep freeze yeast and nematodes for years, and they  come back to life...
 
THE QUESTION will just move to become, ok, we have proof of concept once,  
twice, whatever.  Now where's the extraterrestrial beef?  Those bags  of wierd 
enzymes are one thing, but THE QUESTION will always has been, can they  
organize, intercommunicate and form conscious beings with souls?  And the  
closedminded will say - only on Earth.  The visionaries will say - In  the name of 
Copernicus, get over it!  And some will be burned at the stake  by the experts of 
their day.
 
Saludos, Doug