Saturday, October 23, 2010

Quote of the Day: "Life Began With The Spontaneous Formation of RNA"

"enthusiasm"                    Image by TheAlieness      GiselaGiardino²³ via Flickr
...  perhaps two-thirds of scientists publishing in the origin-of life field (as judged by a count of papers published in 2006 in the journal Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere) still support the idea that life began with the spontaneous formation of RNA or a related self-copying molecule. -- Dr. Robert Shapiro, here.
I'm glad I wasn't drinking my K-cup Donut Shop Extra-Bold when I read this.

spon·ta·ne·ous  (spn-tn-s)
adj.
1. Happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated.
2. Arising from a natural inclination or impulse and not from external incitement or constraint.
3. Unconstrained and unstudied in manner or behavior.
4. Growing without cultivation or human labor.
[From Late Latin spontneus, of one's own accord, from Latin sponte; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]

Ain't nature grand!
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2 comments:

Unknown said...

There has to be more to it. Many Scientists are not atheists btw.

I think it has more to do with the limits to their area of study. Its similar to how climitologists are largely ignorant or dismissive of Geology.

BallBounces said...

"Many Scientists are not atheists btw."

This I know. What is really interesting are the scientists who personally, themselves, discover some aspect of cosmological science, stare at what they are seeing, and, as a result become believers in God.

I'm going to be posting on this topic for the next week, so, grab a coffee, fasten your seat-belt, and stay tuned. It's usually enough to attract at least a few virulent atheists -- like moths to a flame -- maybe their wired this way like moths and therefore its darwinian??

"... nothing intellectually compelling or challenging.. bald assertions coupled to superstition... woefully pathetic"