THE
ORIGIN OF LIFE
Perry G. Phillips
INTRODUCTION
TO THE "STANDARD SCENARIO"
Definition of "Standard
Scenario"
Cell complexity and the need to form life in stages
Stage
one: simple organics ---> bio-organics
Stage two: bio-organics
---> bio-polymers (macromolecules)
Stage three: blo-polymers --->
pre-living "cells"
Stage four: pre-living cells ---> primordial life
Constituents of life and their roles, concentrating on:
Amino acids
Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, etc.)
Stage one: Proposed formation
of blo-organic molecules on Earth
Earth's
early atmosphere
Role of sunshine, lightning, thunder, and heat
Stage
two: Concentration mechanism for forming blopolymers from
blo-organics
The need for concentrating organics
The characteristics of a
concentrating mechanism
Suitable reservoir for concentration
Heat
source to evaporate water
Repeated admission of new material
Protection
from:
Dilution
Ultraviolet radiation (UV)
EVIDENCE
IN FAVOR OF THE STANDARD SCENARIO
Miller's experiment as a
simulation of conditions on early Earth
Interstellar clouds
Constituents in interstellar clouds
The formation of precursor organic
molecules
Meteorites and amino acids [with a note on asteroids]
Stage three: Laboratory
production of pre-living "cells'
Microspheres
Coacervates
Stage four: Microfossils
Definition and how formed
Differences between procaryotes and eucaryotes
Correlation between geologic dates of microfossils and fossil complexity
Comparison of ancient microfossils with today's forms
SUMMARY
OF THE PROCESSES IN THE STANDARD SCENARIO
EVIDENCE AGAINST THE STANDARD SCENARIO
Back to Miller's experiment
Problem with tar formation
Number of compounds formed and those actually relevant to life
Arginine and Histidine never formed
Competing reactions: A + B ---> C and D + E ---> F,
but A +
B + D + E ---> G with little or no E or F
Polarization of molecules
Problems with Ultraviolet
Need for protection from UV
Mechanism for protection from UV
The Possibility (and danger) of oxygen present in Earth's early
atmosphere
Chemical origin of oxygen
A possible "catch 22"
Brief overview of progress in understanding the formation of nucleic
acids
Role of nucleic acids (DNA, etc.)
Composition of DNA, etc.
Laboratory synthesis of nucleic acid bases, sugars, and phosphates
CONCLUSION
The chemical development of life as proposed by the standard scenario
lacks sufficient evidence to be believed.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Day, William.
1984 Genesis on planet earth: the
search for life's beginning. 2nd ed.
New Haven: Yale Univ. Press.
England, Donald.
1972. A Christian view of origins.
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
Shapiro, Robert.
1986. Origins: a skeptic's guide to the
creation of life on earth. New
York: Summit Books.
Thaxton, Charles; Bradley, Walter; and Olsen, Roger.
1984. The mystery of life's origin:
reassessing current theories. New
York: Philosophical Library.
Wiester, John.
1983. The Genesis connection.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson.