1 Abiogenesis Part 2 From Inorganic Materials to “LUCA” Nils Confer, PhD MBA 10/18/2012

2 Evenings Outline Review Review The building of a cell - requirements The building of a cell - requirements Conclusions Conclusions

3 Creation or “Evolution”? Choose!

4 Two Sides of the Same Coin? Evolutionist View of Abiogenesis Inorganic Materials Building Blocks Polymers Polymers with Advantages Hypercycle Protobiont Bacteria Multicellular Organisms Complex and Diverse Life Creationist View of Abiogenesis Inorganic Materials Complex and Diverse Life

5 Cells are Extremely Complex!

6 Cells – Irreducible Complexity?

7 The Language of Life – Communication out of Chaos?

8 Ribosomes – Protein Factories

9 Nucleosomes

10 Flagellated Motors

11 Nuclear Pore Complex

12 Building a Cell - Requirements Evolutionist View of Abiogenesis Inorganic Materials Building Blocks Polymers Polymers with Advantages Hypercycle Protobiont Bacteria Multicellular Organisms Complex and Diverse Life Creationist View of Abiogenesis Inorganic Materials Complex and Diverse Life

13 Comments from Textbook “Clearly there are dangers in introducing the cell through its evolution: the large gaps in our knowledge can be filled only by speculations that are liable to be wrong in many details. We cannot go back in time to witness the unique molecular events that took place billions of years ago.” “Clearly there are dangers in introducing the cell through its evolution: the large gaps in our knowledge can be filled only by speculations that are liable to be wrong in many details. We cannot go back in time to witness the unique molecular events that took place billions of years ago.”

14 Comments from Textbook “…surprisingly easy…” “…surprisingly easy…” “The developing earth had immense advantages over any human experimenter, it was very large and could produce a wide spectrum of conditions.” “The developing earth had immense advantages over any human experimenter, it was very large and could produce a wide spectrum of conditions.” “…were selected…” “…were selected…” “…preferred…” “…preferred…”

15 Comments from Textbook “Simple organic molecules such as amino acids and nucleotides can associate to form polymers.” “Simple organic molecules such as amino acids and nucleotides can associate to form polymers.” “The origin of life…requires self promotion.” “The origin of life…requires self promotion.” “The need for containment is easily fulfilled…” “The need for containment is easily fulfilled…”

16 The Amazing Cell