replication, contrary to modern understanding, and for decades Oparin theory was the leading approach to the origin of life question. Coacervates measure 1 to 100 micrometers across, possess osmotic properties and form spontaneously from certain dilute organic solutions. Their name derives from the Latin coacervare, meaning “to assemble together or cluster”. Though they were once suggested to have played a significant role in the evolution of cells and, therefore, of life itself, nowadays this approach is mostly abandoned.
In the Miller–Urey experiment a highly reducing mixture of gases, methane, ammonia and hydrogen, was used. Basic organic molecules, such as amino acids, were formed. Less reducing gases produced a lower yield and variety. It is debatable whether or notthe mixture of gases used in their experiment truly represents the atmosphere of early Earth. The question is where did the 21% oxygen of today come from if it was not always there? It was once thought that a reasonable amount of oxygen was present in the early atmosphere, before “life” began, but this would have prevented the formation of organic molecules. As we have said, something about the earth maintains the present mixture of gases in our air. It is therefore probable that it has always been this composition.
Considering the way the prebiotic soup is referred to in so many discussions of the origin of life as an already established reality, it comes as something of a shock to realize that there is absolutely no positive evidence for its existence. Michael Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Adler and Adler, 1985, pg 261.
DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid and is found in all living things. The formation of complex
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37