We know so little of our own conception so I suppose it's easier to brush that matter aside.
On May 27, 7:18 am, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > Something of an old chestnut this one, despite NS's focus on it last > week. I note that meteorites are now the Earth's preferred postal > service. How long before our wonderful entrepreneurs offer up 'ATP > Supplements - to freshen up your tired life-batteries'? Or maybe the > cigarette manufacturers will be able to recommend we take it up again, > as long as we use matches to light up (for the 'healthy' phosphorous > content)? > > I agree on the possible clues on what "we" are Bill (or 'where > from'). Intelligent design claims have long been in the hands of > idiots since Darwin and far too easily connected with specific gods. > I have never been able to get past wondering why super-omnipotence > can't see its way to let us know what we are, what we should do and > such. If science is more or less right, then "we" at least come long > after "something else", and we could do with more practice in hen and > egg questions. Even as a chemist I could only wonder at what pre- > caused or organised what went on in my experiments that was clearly > beyond any influence I could have. Sometimes even the type of glass > was a key, but I mean something beyond even surface effects or > catalysis. I would actually like a version or two of modern scripture > not requiring me to believe in blue and white striped rabbits. You > have introduced me to some. My thanks are duly given. > > On 26 May, 17:42, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > One more probable step in piecing together what ‘we’ are from the > > scientific community. > > > orn. > > > 'Nature's Batteries' May Have Helped Power Early Lifeforms > > > ScienceDaily (May 25, 2010) — Researchers at the University of Leeds > > have uncovered new clues to the origins of life on Earth. > > > The team found that a compound known as pyrophosphite may have been an > > important energy source for primitive lifeforms. > > > There are several conflicting theories of how life on Earth emerged > > from inanimate matter billions of years ago -- a process known as > > abiogenesis. > > > "It's a chicken and egg question," said Dr Terry Kee of the University > > of Leeds, who led the research. "Scientists are in disagreement over > > what came first -- replication, or metabolism. But there is a third > > part to the equation -- and that is energy." > > > All living things require a continual supply of energy in order to > > function. This energy is carried around our bodies within certain > > molecules, one of the best known being ATP (adenosine triphosphate), > > which converts heat from the sun into a useable form for animals and > > plants. > > > At any one time, the human body contains just 250g of ATP -- this > > provides roughly the same amount of energy as a single AA battery. > > This ATP store is being constantly used and regenerated in cells via a > > process known as respiration, which is driven by natural catalysts > > called enzymes. > > > "You need enzymes to make ATP and you need ATP to make enzymes," > > explained Dr Kee. "The question is: where did energy come from before > > either of these two things existed? We think that the answer may lie > > in simple molecules such as pyrophosphite which is chemically very > > similar to ATP, but has the potential to transfer energy without > > enzymes." > > > The key to the battery-like properties of both ATP and pyrophosphite > > is an element called phosphorus, which is essential for all living > > things. Not only is phosphorus the active component of ATP, it also > > forms the backbone of DNA and is important in the structure of cell > > walls. > > > But despite its importance to life, it is not fully understood how > > phosphorus first appeared in our atmosphere. One theory is that it was > > contained within the many meteorites that collided with the Earth > > billions of years ago. > > > "Phosphorus is present within several meteoritic minerals and it is > > possible that this reacted to form pyrophosphite under the acidic, > > volcanic conditions of early Earth," added Dr Kee. > > > The findings, published in the journal Chemical Communications, are > > the first to suggest that pyrophosphite may have been relevant in the > > shift from basic chemistry to complex biology when life on earth > > began. Since completing this research, Dr Kee and his team have found > > even further evidence for the importance of this molecule and now hope > > to team up with collaborators from NASA to investigate its role in > > abiogenesis. > > > The study was funded by the STFC and the Engineering and Physical > > Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). > > >http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100525094906.htm- Hide quoted > >text - > > - Show quoted text -
