Todd Whitcombes column (Sept 27) on the origin of life places a lot of emphasis on the Urey-Miller experiment of 1952 that postulated earths early atmosphere consisted of hydrogen, nitrogen, methane and water, and that by applying a spark to this mixture they were able to produce amino acids, the building blocks of life, similar to how it could have happened in nature. Just one problem with that scenario - Earth's early atmosphere was nothing like that. If it had been, it would have resulted in large deposits of nitrogen rich minerals, and such deposits have never been found.
Urey-Miller has been rejected by science for 50 years now. The actual composition of the Earth's atmosphere appears to have been CO2, nitrogen and water vapor. Running Urey-Miller with this combination produces organic compounds like formaldehyde and cyanide, substances toxic to life.
How about another experiment?
Put a live cell in an ideal saline solution and poke a hole in it so all the contents leak out. You now have all the components necessary for life in a situation far more advantageous than the early Earth, but let's make it even better.
Put in 1000 identical cells and poke holes in them too. What are the chances that all these components will assemble into even one living cell? Absolutely zero.
While there have been many different theories for the origin of life over the decades, all have been found wanting, and while life arose somehow, science still has no idea how.
Art Betke
Prince George
