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To: orionblamblam
The likelihood of DNA forming in conditions of those of the early Earth are not only better than 100%, it's very likely to have occured countless times.

Those who have told you that the chances of DNA forming naturally are "one chance in 10Ebajillion" are liars.

You need to read your own literature. The formation of precurors, principally nucleotides and amino acids, is based on the theory that the composition of earth's atmosphere was considerably different than it is today. It has not been proved and it may never be proved. The other evolutionist theory is the space origin. Most evolutionists agree that the step from amino acids to RNA or DNA is a huge one they need to answer. Most mathematicians say its virtually impossible. The generally accepted date for a suitable prebiotic atmosphere is 3.8 billion years, and for life is 3.5 to 3.3 billion years. Evolutionist literature thoroughly explains how these dates were arrived at and why the short time frame is a problem.

I do check out evolutionist web sites because I am curious and not locked into dogma. You ought to try it.

259 posted on 09/09/2004 11:25:55 AM PDT by trubolotta
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To: trubolotta

> The formation of precurors, principally nucleotides and amino acids, is based on the theory that the composition of earth's atmosphere was considerably different than it is today. It has not been proved and it may never be proved.

It is shown adequately well. The composition of the Earth's atmosphere required for the formation of these chemicals is virtually identical to the composition of other planetary atmospheres (such as the previously mentioned Titan). Large quantities of free oxygen in an atmosphere is virtually certain to only exist where life has made it; oxygen is obviously an aggressive oxidizer, and will readily oxidize with hydrogen to form water vapor. Since the vast bulk of the universe is hydrogen, free oxygen will very rapidly be used up in forming water and other relatively inert oxides, while still leaving a vast surplus of hydrogen and hydrogen-based reducers such as methane.

This being the case, there is no reason to assume that Earth was any different until large masses of early lifeforms turned the process on it's head and began liberating oxygen.

In our solar system, only Venus, Mars and Titan are vaguely Earth-like planets with atmospheres. Venus's atmosphere is largely nitrogen (largely inerty and non-reacting) and carbon dioxide (oxidized carbon); Mars is largely carbon dioxide; Titan is nitrogen and methane/ethane. As for the gas giants, they are overwhelmingly hydrogen and light gasses like ammonia and water vapor. Spectroscopic analysis of interstellar gas clouds shows an abundance of hydrogen, helium, methane and the like, some water vapor, and very little free oxygen.

The universe is full of fuel, and there ain't near enough oxygen to burn with it all. Free oxygen is a *product* of life, not a requirement for it's formation.

> Most evolutionists agree that the step from amino acids to RNA or DNA is a huge one they need to answer. Most mathematicians say its virtually impossible.

It's been done in the lab under early-Earth conditions. This makes it's natural occurance in a laboratory the size of Earth and given millions of years a certainty... a certainty that almost assuredly occured independently countless billions of times.


261 posted on 09/09/2004 12:04:15 PM PDT by orionblamblam
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To: trubolotta
The formation of precurors, principally nucleotides and amino acids, is based on the theory that the composition of earth's atmosphere was considerably different than it is today.

Ahem. Amino acids form readily in interstellar dust clouds.

273 posted on 09/10/2004 5:56:12 AM PDT by Junior (FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC)
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