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To: Southack
"RNA viruses and prions are not cells and they do not contain DNA, but they do qualify as life-forms in the broadest sense." -- Physicist

If we limit this discussion to cellular life-forms (thus bypassing the on-going debate about whether or not viri are considered Life), can we agree with each other that Watson's math applies?

No, because then the math is completely irrelevant. You would claim that Watson demonstrates that no DNA-based single-celled organism could spontaneously arise. But who cares? Nobody suggests that such a thing happens - its a strawman. Those non-DNA life forms (RNA cells, mitochondrial cells, etc.) are all examples of what the PRECURSORS to DNA-based cells might have been like.

Because life did not spontaneously appear as a fully formed DNA-based cell, but rather arose through a process of selection and chemistry, Watson's math is irrelevant.

But then, you knew that. It's been pointed out for three threads now, and you haven't answered it. You've just ignored it and moved on, brazenly repeating your assertions.

131 posted on 03/07/2002 4:51:05 AM PST by cracker
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To: cracker
Placemarker.
132 posted on 03/07/2002 5:43:34 AM PST by Lurking Libertarian
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To: cracker, Physicist
"RNA viruses and prions are not cells and they do not contain DNA, but they do qualify as life-forms in the broadest sense." -- Physicist

Viruses and prions are wholly dependent upon cellular life and, absent evidence to the contrary, it would seem to me they had to arise after cellular life had become the norm. They are parasites. There is no basis for assuming that viruses and prions are precursors to cellular life. Unless of course I am mistaken.

133 posted on 03/07/2002 5:58:22 AM PST by Phaedrus
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To: cracker
"No, because then the math is completely irrelevant. You would claim that Watson demonstrates that no DNA-based single-celled organism could spontaneously arise."

Actually, that's what the math shows. Why would you call that irrelevant?

152 posted on 03/07/2002 8:26:38 AM PST by Southack
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To: cracker
"Because life did not spontaneously appear as a fully formed DNA-based cell, but rather arose through a process of selection and chemistry..."

Are you claiming that Life first arose from an incompletely formed DNA-based cell?

153 posted on 03/07/2002 8:29:23 AM PST by Southack
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