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From: bill@utastro.UUCP (William H. Jefferys)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: Hark!, but soft...
Message-ID: <866@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Dec-84 10:33:38 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.866
Posted: Mon Dec  3 10:33:38 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Dec-84 05:07:25 EST
References: <497@uwmacc.UUCP>
Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 17

>I have a hypothetical question.  If, given that life formed quickly,
>the obvious conclusion is that the probability of forming life is
>very high, what would the obvious conclusion be if we discovered
>that life appeared to have formed even more quickly, say,
>instantaneously?

In the geological record, 'instantaneously' is still going to be
a very long time in human terms, tens of millions of years at the
least.  Besides, the hypothetical is contrary to the evidence.  The
first evidence for life is at least some half billion years after 
the formation of the Earth.
-- 
"When evolution is outlawed, only outlaws will evolve"
	Bill Jefferys  8-%
	Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712   (USnail)
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