Quoting [EMAIL PROTECTED]: > --===============1542928769== > > [Platt] > > Cyrstals are formed by self-replicating inorganic patterns, but I don't > > know of > anyone > > who claims we evolved from crystals. > > Then see Cairns-Smith in "Seven Clues to the Origin of Life". Richard Dawkins > in > "The Blind Watchmaker" summarizes: clay-crystal replicators combine with > acids > to form replicating RNA. > What is the mystery? > a) minerals can replicate > b) acids (RNA or DNA) can replicate > c) life is carbon-based.
The mystery is that the beginning of life is still a mystery. There are many theories, as Wiki explains under "Life." > "What the Dynamic force had to invent in order to move up the molecular level > and stay there was a carbon molecule that would preserve its limited Dynamic > freedom from inorganic laws and at the same time resist deterioration back to > simple compounds of carbon again. A study of nature shows the Dynamic force > was > not able to do this but got around the problem by inventing two molecules: a > static molecule able to resist abrasion, heat, chemical attack and the like; > and > > a Dynamic one, able to preserve the subatomic indeterminacy at a molecular > level > > and try everything in the ways of chemical combination. > The static molecule, an enormous, chemically dead, plasticlike molecule > called > > protein, surrounds the Dynamic one and prevents attack by forces of light, > heat > and other chemicals that would prey on its sensitivity and destroy it. The > Dynamic one, called DNA, reciprocates by telling the static one what to do, > replacing the static one when it wears out, replacing itself even when it > hasnt > > worn out, and changing its own nature to overcome adverse conditions. These > two > kinds of molecules, working together, are all there is in some viruses, which > are the simplest forms of life. > This division of all biological evolutionary patterns into a Dynamic function > and a static function continues on up through higher levels of evolution. The > formation of semipermeable cell walls to let food in and keep poisons out is > a > static latch. So are bones, shells, hide, fur, burrows, clothes, houses, > villages, castles, rituals, symbols, laws and libraries. All of these prevent > evolutionary degeneration." > (Lila, p. 169) As I've said many times, I like Pirsig's explanation of the beginning of life. It beats "oops" IMO. It also harmonizes with the rest of his metaphysics. Platt ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
