I wonder how long it took after the earth was created till the first organic molecules formed to the first "life" was created. I'm assuming this first life must be some type of genetic material, maybe a precurser to RNA since it has started to be shown that RNA can have enzymatic activity. For example snRNAs and the spliceosome that cuts out the introns from pre-mRNA.
The way I see it, the only difference between living and non-living matter is that living matter evolves. I know the whole idea of life is that life metabolizes, replicates, evolves, communicates, and something else. But the point I want to make here is that evolution is a process caused by some "passion" to survive and replication with error over large periods of time. Because of this need to survive does "life" metabolizes, replicates, and communicates. I think if we look at why 1) RNA wants to survive, and 2) why it replicates, we will understand the origins of life.
This message has been edited by Kevin, 12-20-2004 05:29 PM
If superior creatures from space ever visit earth, the first question they will ask, in order to asess the level of our civilization, is: 'Have they discovered evolution yet?'
-Richard Dawkins
™ Version 4.2