Towards synthesis of a minimal cell

[ThaG]

If you want evidence for the common ancestor of life on Earth - it's in our genome and biochemistry which:

first, isn't much different from that of most invertebrates, except for the fact that the genome was duplicated twice in the vertebrate lineage (probably both duplication events happened very close to each other in time in Silurian)

second, most of the essential components of the intracellular machinery are the same as in unicellular organisms (actually, they're the same in all eukaryotes, what metazoans developed after they appeared were signal transduction pathways and tissues with their own specific sets of proteins, these appeared later and are not present in single cell organisms)

third, we share a lot of the really essential components (proteins participating in macromolecule synthesis, metabolism and other processes) with bacteria and archaea

If that's not enough, because I'm sure you'll say "Well, that's interpretation, they were designed that way", I have to add that when I say "the same components" this doesn't mean aboslutely the same, it means functionally and structurally similar

In fact there are differences in different groups and "somehow" these differences are proportionally large the more unrelated two species are, not only that, but you can make mathematical models of the divergence of sequences with time and they predict pretty accurately when different groups diverged in the eukaryote lineage, and again, if that's not enough for you, the predicted times coincide with the time when they appear in the fossil record...

Do you want more evidence?

Is this just another interpretation, that doesn't mean more than the others?

 

[n9newunsixx5150]

You apparently have religious devotion toward evolution theory despite the facts. I have read numerous things from qualified scientists referring to the huge gaps in the theory and evidence to the contrary. I don't necessarily agree with everything stated there, but perhaps you can take a look at www.evolutionisdead.com

 

[ThaG]

I'm very curious who are these "qualified scientists"?

and what are these facts and evidence to the contrary?

 

[ThaG]

great site....

Global Warming is not due to human contribution of Carbon Dioxide

the same old tactic being used once again - give the people what they want to hear, they will eat it up....

 

[ThaG]

Let's take a closer look at that nonsence:

Evolutionist Assumptions:
1. Evolution is a universal principle.
Everything observable in the universe can be explained by evolutionary or naturalistic processes.

Yes, evolution is a valid theory because it can make predictions and these predictions happen to be true most of the time

On the contrary, making accurate predictions is definitely not a characteristic of creationism models

2. Invoking a Creator is forbidden.
Only explanations with a naturalistic basis are valid. Any causes outside of matter and energy are anathema and must be excluded.

Yes, of course, because the existence of that Creator can't be proved; it is totally anti-scientific to include things that came out of nowhere in your theory

3. Matter and/or energy have always existed.
Since the law of conservation of matter and energy has never changed, the totality of matter + energy has always been the same, (even if it was shrunk and stored in a pre-Big Bang mathematical point)

This has nothing to do with biological evolution as it happened in times when the conservation laws were clearly valid; BTW what's the evidence to the contrary?

4. There is no difference between material processes and life processes.
The natural laws used in nucleosynthesis, geology, or the formation of galaxies are the same as those used in the development of life. The transition from non-living to living is a gradual change from simple elements to molecules to complex compounds to life.

Yes, because nothing non-material has ever been observed in life

5. Natural processes promote self-organization from the simple to the complex.
Mutations and Natural Selection alone are able to develop new structures, organize complex life processes, and generate new information. The major goal of evolutionary research is to discover and articulate how natural processes can bring about decreases in entropy and even lead to inevitable increases in organization and complexity. Processes that circumvent thermodynamics will soon be discovered.

???????????????????????

Who said that processes that circumvent thermodynamics will soon be discovered? New information can easily be generated by gene duplication or it can even arise from random sequences (observed countless times in numerous labs all over the world). Decreases in enthropy are possible because the Eaarth is not a closed system, it received a lot of energy from the Sun

6. Mutation, extinction, and death are natural and necessary to the mechanisms of evolution.
Mutation, selection, annidation, chance, long periods of time, ecological changes, and death are needed factors in the mechanics of Evolution. Death is absolutely essential as it eliminates that which is less 'survivable'. "Mutation and selection are the motors of evolution." (K. Lorenz).

Yes, these are the things that have been observed to drive evolution today and judging by the fossil record, they were driving it in the past

7. There is no plan, goal, or purpose in the universe.
Allowing plan or purpose in the universe would open the door to a Creator, which, as we have seen above, is prohibited. Evolution MUST be un-directed.

Nobody assumes that, this is a conclusion that is becoming increasingly clear as science progresses and reveals the laws of nature

8. Genetic similarities are proof of common ancestry.
Similarities (homology) in DNA and physical traits can all be used to build a great 'Tree of Life.' Once all the transitional forms are found, the tree will be complete. A great deal of effort is expended to create models that allow newly discovered life forms to fit within that tree. Problems like convergence will be solved with more data.
Certain biochemical capacities are common to all living things, so there is even a degree of similarity between the DNA of yeast, for example, and that of humans.

These are not assumptions, these are facts and conclusions, derived from the facts

Convergence is a problem???

9. The present is the key to the past.
The observed data and processes of today may be extrapolated in time as far back as one likes. Geological processes, atomic decay, and cosmic expansion are universal and uniform. When dating organic matter, it is a given that the 14C/12C ratio in the atmosphere has never changed, which requires that the Earth's magnetic field be constant. Natural laws continue today as they always have.

Yes, because if they wasn't always the same, we would not be here; the laws of quantum physcis require that decay processes be constant, otherwise there would be no planets and stars

10. Evolution will continue in the far future.
All life is in transition between types, and the future of Evolution (since it is undirected) could bring about improvements or regressions.

Yes, it has been going on for 4 billions years, it is happening now, there is no reason to think it will ever stop

These assumptions have little or no scientific basis, but they are the tenants or 'glasses' through which all evidence is filtered as various theories of origins are developed

I feel sorry for those who wrote this

 

[n9newunsixx5150]

http://www.evolutionisdead.com/quotes.php?search=rate

That is the portion of the website to which I was referring. I don't agree with everything you quoted above. I will respond to one thing...

Yes, because nothing non-material has ever been observed in life

Matter interacts with matter. Intelligence grasps the implications. We do not have direct physical contact with a non-physical entity, but using our intelligence we can come to understand the existence of an entity superior to our senses; self-realization.