Oolon Colluphid

Ooh, once again pseudophilosophical semantics pokes its nose in. I said "very probably". It's plausible that the first RNA-type molecule arrived on a meteor. But we have good reason to think that the materials and conditions for small-scale replicators to develop were right here on earth. We do not 'know' it, in the 'proved' sense you’re implying. But as you should know, nothing is proved to a nicety in science. We’re working from evidence, not defining the universe a priori. But as I said, we have very good reasons for thinking it to be so. See elwoodblues’s duck comment.

Absolute and utter gonads, old chap. It makes not the slightest difference to “organic evolution’s validity” whether the first replicators came into being by chemistry, divine intervention, engineering by Zorgons from the planet Tharg or being sneezed out of the nose of the Great Green Arkleseizure. Evolution’s what you get once you’ve got them. That we have plausible naturalistic mechanisms for their origins is useful, but a different matter. From what you say, “what I know is that” you know sweet buck all about it.

Since you are apparently a creationist, please do come on over to E/C and we’ll discuss this further.

Nope, but it gives you ways and places to look for evidence:

<a href="http://www.resa.net/nasa/origins_life.htm" target="_blank">http://www.resa.net/nasa/origins_life.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.accessexcellence.org/WN/SUA03/RNA_origins_life.html" target="_blank">http://www.accessexcellence.org/WN/SUA03/RNA_origins_life.html</a>
<a href="http://www.origins.rpi.edu/chem.html" target="_blank">http://www.origins.rpi.edu/chem.html</a>

There’s plenty more, but I don’t want to make you look stupid. You do it so well yourself.

TTFN, Oolon

Jack the Bodiless

Hence, the futility of all religions. According to Ed, God is dead: according to Theo, religion is worthless.