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From: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: Thermodynamics
Message-ID: <122@cybvax0.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Sep-84 11:02:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: cybvax0.122
Posted: Fri Sep 14 11:02:57 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 02:49:10 EDT
References: <282@uwmacc.UUCP>
Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Lines: 18


Prigogene wrote "The idea of spontaneous generation of life in its present form
is therefore highly improbable."  Pasteur's experiments have also supported
this idea; however it is not in the least incompatible with evolutionary ideas
of abiogenesis (the fancy term).

No credible evolutionary biologist claims that *poof!* a bacterium appeared by
chance in the primeval soup.  Current theory concerning the origins of life
deals with self-replicative systems composed of a few hypothetical polypeptides.

Assuming a single origin of life, all living organisms today are the result of
roughly three billion years of evolutionary competition and selection.
It would be extremely surprising if the first self-replicating chemical system
(life) was robust enough that an unchanged line of descent could have survived
until today, through major environmental changes and in the face of the
competition of other, evolving lines of descent.

For a more thorough explanation, see "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins.