multi-stage

HURDLE NUMBER 9. THE MULTI-STAGE HURDLE.

In order to create the chemicals of life many separate chemical steps (or stages) are required. For just one of these steps to occur would be vastly improbable. For ALL of these steps to occur, one after the other, in exactly the correct sequence, would be so vastly, vastly, vastly improbable as to constitute effectively a miracle. Here are some quotes from authoritative sources that substantiate this statement:-

Here is a quote from the book Seven Clues to The Origin of Life by A.G. Cairns Smith (Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at The University of Glasgow), published by Cambridge University Press, reprinted 1991, page 54:-

“About A DOZEN AND A HALF SEPARATE OPERATIONS involving as many enzymes are needed to make one of the DNA nucleotides.” (My capitals.)

(My comment:- In the primordial soup there were no enzymes available.)

Here is a quote from page 56 of the same book:-

“It takes a dozen and a half steps to make a nucleotide – there are that many intermediates, many of which are quite unstable (ie:- likely to rapidly decompose).”

Here is a quote from page 26 of the same book:-

“Enzymes make the nucleotide units for DNA - - - - Molecules like these may need ten, twenty, thirty separate steps in their making – and as many different enzymes, each specially designed to carry out one step.”

The next quote is from the book The Origin of Life by Professor Paul Davies (Professor of Natural Philosophy at Macquarie University, Sydney), published by Penguin Books, 2000, pages 111 to 112:-

“Nucleic acids (ie:- RNA and DNA) can be prepared - - - - - There are very many - - - steps involved, and each (step) requires DIFFERENT special conditions - - - - - nature would be struggling to make RNA from a dilute soup under any plausible prebiotic conditions.” (My capitals.)

The next quote is from the book Molecular Origin of Life edited by Andre Brack of The Centre de Biophysique Moleculaire – Orleans, France. published by Cambridge University Press, 1998.Pages 255 to 268 – Article by James P. Ferris of The Department of Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, page 255:-

“No prebiotic simulation experiments have been reported in which biopolymers (ie:- RNA or proteins) are formed directly from simple inorganic and organic starting materials.” The author then goes on to explain the proposed scenarios for the formation of biopolymers:-

(1). Accumulation of solutions of monomers of the same type in one location.

(2). Evaporation of the water.

(3). Heating the monomers to effect polymerization at exactly the right temperature. Too high a temperature will decompose the polymer.

(4). These polymers washed off the surface into water ready for further reactions.

The author then comments:- “One can imagine that, in special instances, one stage of this may have occurred, but IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW A SERIES OF THESE PROCESSES essential for the origin of the first life took place.” (My capitals.)