The Drake Equation Revisited

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Larv

Oh, I might have at least a clue.



Yes, I have read Ward’s books. I noticed that in “Life as We Do Not Know It” he makes a key omission on page 96 when he explains away the emergence of a genetic code in “bag life” as merely perfunctory: “Eventually, a genetic code using nucleic acids comes from within the cells.” That’s it? My gosh, it’s that simple?

Then he goes on to speculate that genes came first, protein (enzymes) second, and cells third. That’s interesting. The only thing, though, is where the hell did those genes come from? Just out of nowhere? Just a happy coincidence of an emergent property that arrives pre-coded for instant application?

And, moontanman, you can dispense with those condescending remarks, and that creationist crap, too. I’m an untheist, through and through. (An untheist believes that it doesn’t matter if there is or isn’t a god.)

Hey larv, when it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck I'm going to assume it has feathers and a beak. I figured you were just baiting me. Ward is just the start, it gives you some idea of just how complex the idea of abiogenesis really is and how unreasonable your remark of adding ingredients to a test tube and getting life really are. If you have a grasp of the concept you shouldn't make off hand remarks like that. it's the mantra of the creationists and doesn't deserve to be thrown around in a serious discussion. You take this serious and i will. you demean me and the ideas and I'll do the same to you. quid pro quo

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by Moontanman

Hey larv, when it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck I'm going to assume it has feathers and a beak. I figured you were just baiting me. Ward is just the start, it gives you some idea of just how complex the idea of abiogenesis really is and how unreasonable your remark of adding ingredients to a test tube and getting life really are. If you have a grasp of the concept you shouldn't make off hand remarks like that. it's the mantra of the creationists and doesn't deserve to be thrown around in a serious discussion. You take this serious and i will. you demean me and the ideas and I'll do the same to you. quid pro quo

One of the beautiful things about this topic, Moon, is that it is a formula with speculative values plugged in. We can use our best logic and intuition to determine those values and come up with a speculative answer about a topic we will not live to find out the correct answer. I can appreciate Larv's position as being his, and I can appreciate yours as well. You have brought more than just layman's speculation in providing fruitful links to parallel topics and expanded the thinking of the concept, and I truly appreciate that. Don't let the difference of opinion get under your skin.

Bill