It actually goes further than that, but it's not talked about now because earlier ideas have been thoroughly debunked. At one time it was believed that the very CHEMICALS that make up living things were special and were considered to have the elan vital. It was believed that none of these chemicals could ever be made from nonliving chemicals in a laboratory. That's why we have organic chemistry (organic, meaning from life) as a separate branch of chemistry from inorganic. Of course, we know now that this idea was complete nonsense; many organic compounds have been made from inorganic ones in the lab without any help from living creatures. I suspect that the notion that life is somehow special apart from its chemical makeup and organization will similarly be shown to be wrong.
God didn't use chemistry. He wasn't limited by the laws, that he created, of this universe. He simply "spoke" life into existance.
It doesn't matter much to me whether they are using "basic Chemistry or inorgainic materials. I am not concerned much either about philosophical ponderings on the matter. Even if they can put chemicals togehter and create some form of "life" it does not mean that what they are doing is anything like the creation that came from God.