Posted: Mar 25, 2010 2:40 pm
rainbow wrote:Rumraket wrote:rainbow wrote:Rumraket wrote:
The interesting facts to ponder are that these various compounds are synthesizable under conditions where no mind is investing it's will in their production.
Not really. Small compounds are generally easily formed by undirected reactions. So I'd not think that the formation of glycine would be of any greater importance than say glyceraldehyde:
Would you?
You misunderstand me. I'm not myself, putting any special significance on the synthesis of some particular compound over any other.
I'm merely pointing out that I find it compelling that almost all of the various compounds which are suggested as candidates important for the origin of life, are indeed synthesizable without intelligent intervention. Many of them are indeed found in comet fragments, meteors, interstellar clouds etc. etc.
If you were to put C, H, O and N together with enough energy, you'd get glycine, and if you were really lucky - you'd get some glyceraldehyde. It really is no big deal.
...so I'm still waiting to hear what's so exciting about this?
I find it exciting because many of these various compounds are the building blocks of life today. I find it exciting because they could have been the building blocks of the first lifeforms on earth. I find the Origin of Life an exciting subject.