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To: spunkets
Polarized light has nothing to do with why amino acids are all L. Any light beam would have the same effect on both configurations.

As the original quote noted, polarized light most certainly can have different effects on L and R stereoisomers (i.e. more likely to be absorbed by, and thereby disrupt bonds in, one than the other).

One might as well assert that inserting a screw into a threaded hole will have the same result whether the screw thread direction is the same as, or opposite to, the hole thread direction.

49 posted on 02/04/2006 9:41:31 AM PST by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
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To: steve-b
"i.e. more likely to be absorbed by, and thereby disrupt bonds in, one than the other"

The molecules themselves are randomly oriented. Bonds are broken by the correct frequency of light(E) on particular bonds, not the whole molecule. The interaction of light with the whole molecule, which is involved in circular polarization, does not break bonds. Any freauency of circularly polarized light is effected, by D, or L molecules. Either the light passes, or it's reflected. It will either give the molecule some angular momentum, or give it some linear momentum. In either case if the amplitude of the wave is sufficient that the momentum results in bond breaking, the temperature is high enough that no difference in destruction of either D, or L will be notable.

"One might as well assert that inserting a screw into a threaded hole will have the same result whether the screw thread direction is the same as, or opposite to, the hole thread direction."

The light either passes, or it is reflected.

Also, the proteins didn't come from space.

56 posted on 02/04/2006 11:14:01 AM PST by spunkets
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