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A Simpler Origin for Life [Preview]

The sudden appearance of a large self-copying molecule such as RNA was exceedingly improbable. Energy-driven networks of small molecules afford better odds as the initiators of life















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Extraordinary discoveries inspire extraordinary claims. Thus, James Watson reported that immediately after he and Francis Crick uncovered the structure of DNA, Crick "winged into the Eagle (pub) to tell everyone within hearing that we had discovered the secret of life." Their structure--an elegant double helix--almost merited such enthusiasm. Its proportions permitted information storage in a language in which four chemicals, called bases, played the same role as 26 letters do in the English language.

Further, the information was stored in two long chains, each of which specified the contents of its partner. This arrangement suggested a mechanism for reproduction: The two strands of the DNA double helix parted company, and new DNA building blocks that carry the bases, called nucleotides, lined up along the separated strands and linked up. Two double helices now existed in place of one, each a replica of the original.


This article was originally published with the title A Simpler Origin for Life.



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  1. 1. danwinter 02:08 AM 8/20/08

    :implosive phase conjugate electrical origins of life - model - adds detail / explains ennantiomorphic assymetry

    if origins of life - were modeled in pure electrical terms- certain mysteries are solved:

    if the polar handedness of original lightening went one way only-
    and IF that direction of dc polarity were more electrically centripedal

    in initiating first living proteins..

    that would fit -a phase conjugate dielectric cause and origin of life model
    ( see electric phase conjugation as origin / cause / symmetry of:
    -gravity, -perception, -color, at
    www.goldenmean.info/budapest08

    extending the well known electric field (at least light field)
    qualities of being self organizing and self correction
    of PHASE CONJUGATE materials
    to the cause of life

    we would then explain why the symmetry of DNA used so much (phase conjugating)
    golden ratio
    (www.goldenmean.info/dnawave
    note there - phase cohering 'black hole' like coherence phenomena around dna - measured

    so then - the original life making molecular array - would be the first one to make
    a phase conjugate dielectric / optic (and we now see- phase conjugate magnetic)

    then that molecular array would demonstrate it's life by being able to centripedally
    (negative ion like) implode (and attract ) the charge (called life).

    then the right hand screw rule of physics field theory (the one which would cause
    charge IMplosion) - would directly account for biology helical ennantiomorphism
    (the one way only helix- of all biology

    see also- electric measure of life force:
    www.goldenmean.info/biophoton
    note where power spectra imply onset of phase conjugate cascading
    --

    dan winter
    www.goldenmean.info
    --

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  2. 2. spiroketal 11:45 PM 11/9/08

    If a phase separation (hydrophobic/hydrophilic) occured as the result of a side reaction that removed material from the driven reaction cycle, then it is conceivable that a new interface/energy barrier can be produced (eg at the proposed tar-layer/aqueous layer interface). It offers more scope for a new set of driven reactions. An assumption is that you would need a phase transfer catalyst to mediate the the transfer of reactants from one driven reaction to the other. Given that cellular processes presumably operate in both hydrophilic (in the cytosol) and hydrophobic (lipophilic or membrane based. eg inside thylakoid stacks) we can speculate on a mechanism for the compartmentalisation of metabolism-based functional units. - Just a thought.

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  3. 3. spiroketal 07:36 PM 11/19/08

    One other thought:
    There have been several momentous milestones in the development of the human species.
    * The origin of the universe
    * The origin of life
    * The origin of species
    * The inception of consciousness/self awareness as separate from intelligence.

    Concentrating on the question of the origin of life, metabolism and replication, there is an implied requirement, in a 'metabolism-first world', for Natural Selection to be able to function in non-living systems. In fact, this is strongly suggested by the hypothesis that information is retained by some sort of complex, pre-DNA molecule as proposed in the article.

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  4. 4. Dov Henis 12:23 PM 1/14/10

    The Origin, Nature And Mechanism of Life's Evolution
    Life Evolution Is A Fractal Of The Cosmos Evolution
    (In Basic, Not AcademEnglish, Language)


    A. Comment-reply, Jan 12th 2010, at
    http://nirmukta.com/2009/12/25/complexity-explained-12-the-likely-origins-of-life/#comments

    Quote : "the basic property of life as a system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution began when genetic information was finally stored and transmitted such as occurs in nucleotide polymers (RNA and DNA)."

    *** The basic property of life as a system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution began at life's genesis, with the first replication of the first independent gene, not yet genomed not yet celled gene...initiated and maintained with direct sun energy. Connote this with sleep and with life's chirality.

    Quote : "life (even primitive early-stage life) is restricted to be one which can undergo Darwinian evolution."

    *** Life is life is life. Life is gene, and gene is gene is gene. There is no "primitive early-stage life" versus "evolved modern life". Complexity in life is what physics calls Broken Symmetry, which is what biology calls Evolution. And life's evolution is simply a cosmic mass evolution, life being just one of the many cosmic mass formats. And, like in cosmic mass evolutions, life's (Darwinian) evolution is based on and consists of the genes replicating with or without change, depending on whether its suggested-by-feed-back progeny's expression gains or does not gain more constrained energy. Plain and simple. All cosmic and life evolutions are initiated and proceed and accumulate in answer to this one single question. All evolutionary complexities, of all degrees of complexity, evolve and develop in response to and in the direction of this one single question.


    B. "Should Evolutionary Theory Evolve?"
    http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/56251/
    Some biologists are calling for a rethink of the rules of evolution.

    Life evolution is a fractal of the cosmos evolution.

    Dear Bob Grant, you can extend the list of evolution theorists and the descriptions of their theories, but IMO none of them will survive into the 22nd century. Just wait and see.

    Life is just one of many forms of mass in the universe, ALL of which are forms of energy. Life's evolution is a fractal of the cosmos evolution. It is so plain and simple, therefore unbelievable in view of the immense verbiage mountains about it. The origin, nature and mechanism of life's evolution is the origin, nature and mechanism of the evolution of mass formats in the cosmos. So plain and simple that it hurts, it's embarassingly clear.

    Glance at the Evolution Theory of the future. Brace yourself to a realization of its obviousness and simplicity. Start the search at the three brief notes, in basic English, below.


    Dov Henis
    (Comments From The 22nd Century)
    Updated Life's Manifest May 2009
    http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/140/122.page#2321
    28Dec09 Implications Of E=Total[m(1 + D)]
    http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/184.page#4587
    Cosmic Evolution Simplified
    http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/240/122.page#4427

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  5. 5. Dov Henis 12:25 PM 1/14/10

    The Origin, Nature And Mechanism of Life's Evolution
    Life Evolution Is A Fractal Of The Cosmos Evolution
    (In Basic, Not AcademEnglish, Language)


    A. Comment-reply, Jan 12th 2010, at
    http://nirmukta.com/2009/12/25/complexity-explained-12-the-likely-origins-of-life/#comments

    Quote : "the basic property of life as a system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution began when genetic information was finally stored and transmitted such as occurs in nucleotide polymers (RNA and DNA)."

    *** The basic property of life as a system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution began at life's genesis, with the first replication of the first independent gene, not yet genomed not yet celled gene...initiated and maintained with direct sun energy. Connote this with sleep and with life's chirality.

    Quote : "life (even primitive early-stage life) is restricted to be one which can undergo Darwinian evolution."

    *** Life is life is life. Life is gene, and gene is gene is gene. There is no "primitive early-stage life" versus "evolved modern life". Complexity in life is what physics calls Broken Symmetry, which is what biology calls Evolution. And life's evolution is simply a cosmic mass evolution, life being just one of the many cosmic mass formats. And, like in cosmic mass evolutions, life's (Darwinian) evolution is based on and consists of the genes replicating with or without change, depending on whether its suggested-by-feed-back progeny's expression gains or does not gain more constrained energy. Plain and simple. All cosmic and life evolutions are initiated and proceed and accumulate in answer to this one single question. All evolutionary complexities, of all degrees of complexity, evolve and develop in response to and in the direction of this one single question.


    B. "Should Evolutionary Theory Evolve?"
    http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/56251/
    Some biologists are calling for a rethink of the rules of evolution.

    Life evolution is a fractal of the cosmos evolution.

    Dear Bob Grant, you can extend the list of evolution theorists and the descriptions of their theories, but IMO none of them will survive into the 22nd century. Just wait and see.

    Life is just one of many forms of mass in the universe, ALL of which are forms of energy. Life's evolution is a fractal of the cosmos evolution. It is so plain and simple, therefore unbelievable in view of the immense verbiage mountains about it. The origin, nature and mechanism of life's evolution is the origin, nature and mechanism of the evolution of mass formats in the cosmos. So plain and simple that it hurts, it's embarassingly clear.

    Glance at the Evolution Theory of the future. Brace yourself to a realization of its obviousness and simplicity. Start the search at the three brief notes, in basic English, below.


    Dov Henis
    (Comments From The 22nd Century)
    Updated Life's Manifest May 2009
    http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/140/122.page#2321
    28Dec09 Implications Of E=Total[m(1 + D)]
    http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/184.page#4587
    Cosmic Evolution Simplified
    http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/240/122.page#4427

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
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