My intention with this thread is to incite a discussion as to the origin of living organisms on this planet. I do not want a discussion about the validity of the theory of evolution. This thread is not about evolution or natural selection, it's about before that. In the beginning.
I propose that we focus on what I think are the three main hypotheses, abiogenesis, exogenesis, and intelligent design. (It started here, it started out there, or God started it.)
Of course, other and related theories are acceptable topics for discussion.
As to my own views, I lean towards an abiogenesis of some sort. I like the RNA-world theory (Maybe PNA though, I've got a lot of reading to do), but I'm not knowledgeable enough to properly understand the theory. Heck, I'm not even sure I know enough to start this thread!
I think that exogenesis is very plausible, but if it is accepted then the origin of life on an alien "earth" must be explained. It seems to me that the life most likely to survive on this planet must have originated locally.
As to intelligent design, well, I don't believe in [any] God.
This thread was created as somewhat of a response to the thread
Evolution, fact or Fiction? because it seems that some people are unaware of the distinction between evolution and origin. I'll repeat that this thread is not about evolution, natural selection, or anything that comes after the origin of the first "living" thing on this planet. If you have comments about what happened after the beginning of life on earth, I'm sure they will be welcome in that thread more so than in this one.
Hopefully this is enough of an initial post to start a discussion while I do some more research.
For quick reference, here are some basic definitions, gleaned from my first destination for basic knowledge, wikipedia. I know that wikipedia is not necessarily an infallible source for information, but it does make an attempt to be somewhat accurate and unbiased. The information there is limited, and therefore should be relatively simple to comprehend.:
Abiogenesis Quote:
|
Abiogenesis (Greek a-bio-genesis, "non biological origins") is the formation of life from non-living matter. Today the term is primarily used to refer to hypotheses about the chemical origin of life, such as from a 'primeval soup' or in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents, and most probably through a number of intermediate steps, such as non-living but self-replicating molecules (biopoiesis). The current models of abiogenesis are still being scientifically tested.
|
HTTP://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenesis Exogenesis/Panspermia Quote:
Panspermia is the hypothesis that "seeds" of life exist already in the Universe, that life on Earth may have originated through these "seeds", and that they may deliver or have delivered life to other habitable bodies.
Exogenesis is a more limited hypothesis that proposes life on Earth was transferred from elsewhere in the Universe but makes no prediction about how widespread it is. Because the term "panspermia" is more well-known, it tends to be used in reference to what would properly be called exogenesis.
|
HTTP://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panspermia Intelligent Design Quote:
|
Intelligent design is the claim that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection."It is a modern form of the traditional teleological argument for the existence of God, modified to avoid specifying the nature or identity of the designer. Its primary proponents, all of whom are associated with the Discovery Institute, believe the designer to be God. Intelligent design's advocates claim it is a scientific theory, and seek to fundamentally redefine science to accept supernatural explanations.
|
HTTP://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_design