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To: AndrewC
You speak of the real world. Well, in the real world, there are no "undesigned" chemical reactions outside of life that have produced the molecules being discussed. As for your speculation about the formation of the complex molecules by accidental conjugation of parts in interstellar clouds, do you realize what a vacuum is?

First, given an assumption of a naturalistic origin of life, there has to be a chemical reaction that created life. Life exists, after all. Just because we haven't found that sequence doesn't mean that it isn't there.

Secondly, the formation of complex molecules (including some complex peptides) in the interstellar medium is a known quantity. Deep within the heart of Giant molecular clouds, molecular lines indicating significant quantities of organic molecules of a variety of types (including one with a significant amount of Ethanol). In 2002, the smallest amino acid, Glycine was discovered in Sagittarius B2 (18 Jul 2002 edition of New Scientist). It appears that a vacuum is not a problem in this matter.

To merge the two comments, I refer you to this paper by David Woon, "Pathways to Glycine and Other Amino Acids in Ultraviolet-irradiated Astrophysical Ices Determined via Quantum Chemical Modeling", Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2002, 571, pg L177-L180

The abstract can be read here, Abstract

665 posted on 12/12/2002 8:41:09 AM PST by ThinkPlease
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To: ThinkPlease
Placemarker of the Beast.
666 posted on 12/12/2002 8:55:04 AM PST by Junior
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To: ThinkPlease
First, given an assumption of a naturalistic origin of life,

That is known as begging the question, "proving" what you have assumed. Secondly, I know that there is evidence of the formation of "complex" chemicals in gaseous clouds, but your "known quantity" of complex peptides, I do not believe. Glycine is an amino acid --- here is its structure

Let me see, 2 carbon, 2 Oxygen, 1 nitrogen, and 5 hydrogen, looks like a complex peptide to me.

667 posted on 12/12/2002 9:25:08 AM PST by AndrewC
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To: ThinkPlease
Life exists, after all. Just because we haven't found that sequence doesn't mean that it isn't there.

No one here, on either side, has denied that there is life on earth. The discussion, in case you came in late, is about how it arose, whether by intelligent design or by some totally materialistic occurrence which no one can even imagine.

678 posted on 12/12/2002 9:00:13 PM PST by gore3000
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