I have already attempted to rebut this point. Apparently my rebuttal has been phrased insufficiently clearly. Would you like me to rephrase it?
If it is not too much trouble, I would also appreciate a direct citation to Yockey's claim that the origin of the genome is unknowable in principle.
No problem, HayekRocks!:
The paradox is seldom mentioned that enzymes are required to define or generate the reaction network, and the network is required to synthesize the enzymes and their component amino acids. There is no trace in physics or chemistry of the control of chemical reactions by a sequence of any sort or of a code between sequences. Thus, when we make the distinction between the origin of the genetic code and its evolution we find the origin of the genetic code us unknowable. We are aware that we must take it as following from the axiom of the existence of life (Bohr, 1933). The existence of life is based on the sequence hypothesis and consequently, as [George] Gamow proposed, there must be a code between each of several sequences such as those in DNA, mRNA, and protein. Accordingly... I shall discuss the evolution of the genetic code, not its origin, which is unknowable. -- Hubert P. Yockey, Information Theory, Evolution, and the Origin of Life, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005; p. 93f. Emphasis added.]Yockey also has this to say about abiogenesis theory:
Those who believe in a prebiotic soup are aware of the difficulties in the prebiotic formation of pyrimidines. For example, cytosine is obtained in a yield of about 5 percent in an aqueous solution of 1.0 M potassium cyanate and 0.1 M cyanoacetylene held at 100 degrees C for twenty-four hours. This is hardly a reasonable prebiotic synthesis because it is obvious that such controlled conditions require a deus ex machina in the form of an expert biochemist. [Ibid., p. 97.]Yockey can be so droll!!!
BTW, thank you for your earlier correction of my reference to Crick's Central Dogma. I "mis-remembered" it -- though it stands to reason that the messenger function should precede the transfer function. I stand corrected, and will not make this mistake again.
Thanks, HayekRocks!