Claim CB050:
Abiogenesis is speculative without evidence. Since it has not been
observed in the laboratory, it is not science.
Source:
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. 1985. Life--How Did It Get Here?
Brooklyn, NY, pp. 50-52.
Response:
- There is a great deal about abiogenesis that is unknown, but
investigating the unknown is what science is for. Speculation is part
of the process. As long as the speculations can be tested, they are
scientific. Much scientific work has been done in testing different
hypotheses relating to abiogenesis, including the following:
- See also the references and suggested readings with
Primitive cells are too complex,
Abiogenesis experiments assume a reducing
atmosphere,
DNA needs proteins to form, proteins need
DNA,
Amino acids are left-handed,
References:
- Cody, G. D. et al. 2000. Primordial carbonylated iron-sulfur
compounds and the synthesis of pyruvate. Science 289: 1337-1340.
See also Wächtershäuser, 2000 (below).
- Ferris, J. P., A. R. Hill Jr., R. Liu and L. E. Orgel. 1996. Synthesis
of long prebiotic oligomers on mineral surfaces. Nature 381: 59-61.
- Kuzicheva, E. A. and N. B. Gontareva. 1999. The possibility of
nucleotide abiogenetic synthesis in conditions of 'KOSMOS-2044'
satellite space flight. Advances in Space Research 23(2): 393-396.
- Orgel, L. E. 1998. Polymerization on the rocks: theoretical
introduction. Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere 28:
227-34.
- Rode, B. M., H. L. Son and Y. Suwannachot. 1999. The combination of
salt induced peptide formation reaction and clay catalysis: a way to
higher peptides under primitive earth conditions. Origins of Life and
Evolution of the Biosphere 29: 273-86.
- Russell, M. J. and A. J. Hall. 1997. The emergence of life from iron
monosulphide bubbles at a submarine hydrothermal redox and pH front.
Journal of the Geological Society of London 154: 377-402.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/Project/originoflife/html/2001/pdf_articles.htm
- Schueller, Gretel. 1998. Stuff of life. New Scientist 159(2151) (12
Sep.): 31-35,
http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/astrobiology/stuffof.jsp
Further Reading:
RESA. n.d. Origins of life. http://www.resa.net/nasa/origins_life.htm
Wächtershäuser, Günter. 2000. Life as we don't know it.
Science 289: 1307-1308.
Deamer, D. W. and J. Ferris. 1999. The origins and early evolution of
life. [the table of contents of the journal Origins of Life and
Evolution of the Biosphere and related information]
http://www.chemistry.ucsc.edu/~deamer/home.html
created 2001-2-17