photosynthesis
HURDLE NUMBER 18. THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS HURDLE.
Even if life could emerge from the primordial soup, it would die out very quickly unless the chemical process of PHOTOSYNTHESIS were already in place. Photosynthesis would be necessary for the nutrition of the biological organisms. The problem is that, in order for photosynthesis to develop, a highly complex chemical process would have to be set in motion. Here are some quotes from authoritative sources that substantiate this statement:-
This quote come from the book Time’s Arrow and Evolution by Harold F. Blum (Visiting Professor at Princeton University - Harold Blum was an assistant professor of animal biology at the University of Oregon, then an instructor of physiology at Harvard Medical School. He became an assistant professor, then associate professor, of physiology at the University of California at Berkeley.) published by Princeton University Press, third edition, 1998, pages 165 to 166:-
The author points out that the first organism required energy to survive. They could have gained this from inorganic sources, but the supply would soon run out, requiring some form of PHOTOSYNTHESIS, which would need to develop very quickly to keep the organisms alive.”
Here is a quote from the same book, page 168:-
“Neither heterotrophic - - - - organisms could have lasted alone on the earth, and photosynthesis must have appeared very early.”
This next quote is from The Oxford Dictionary of Biology, published by Oxford University Press, 6th edition, 2008, Entry – Photosynthesis:-
“Photosynthesis – The chemical process by which green plants - - - -synthesize organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight - - - light energy from sunlight is absorbed by photosynthetic pigments – chiefly the green pigment CHLOROPHYLL.”
(My comment:- This entry provides further material showing that this process is extremely complex and sophisticated.)
The next quote is from the book – New Frontiers of Science, by William L. Lawrence (former Science Editor at The New York Times), published by Bantam Books, NY, 1964, pages 176 to 178:-
“Life on earth - - - - is made possible by the green pigment in plants, CHLOROPHYLL - - - - - -chlorophyll is a HIGHLY COMPLICATED CHEMICAL, the synthesis of which has defied the efforts of the world’s most brilliant chemists. (My capitals)”
(My comment:- If highly trained chemists cannot synthesize chlorophyll, then what are the chances that it will miraculously appear in the primordial soup? The problem is that if this miraculous occurrence did NOT occur, then any biological organisms which emerged from the primordial soup would – not to put too fine a point on it – HAVE NOTHING TO EAT – no nutrition! No organism can survive without nutrition. In that case, it would be “game over” for any life forms that – miraculously – emerged from the primordial soup.)
The next quote is from the book – The Great Evolution Mystery by Gordon Rattray Taylor (Chief Science Advisor to BBC Television), published by Secker and Warburg, 1983, pages 205 to 207:-
The author discusses the chemical formation of chlorophyll, the chemical which enables photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is based on a chemical structure known as the “pyrrole ring”. Until chemical evolution had produced the pyrrole ring, photosynthesis was not possible. It turns out that not one but TWO enzymes are required to form the pyrrole ring. (My comment:- To get BOTH highly complex enzymes both in the right place at the right time seems vastly improbable)
The author then comments:- “The formation by chance of one enzyme without the other would have been useless. Each complements the other. - - - - It is - - - - - hard to swallow the idea that - - - a long series of chances built up such an ELABORATE MECHANISM AS PHOTOSYNTHESIS, a mechanism which depends on substances (ie:- complex enzymes) far more complex than the raw materials which it transforms.” (My capitals.)