It sounds like you're interested in the concept of abiogenesis, the generation of life from non-life. First, it has been proven in various scientific experiments that organic molecules (including amino acids) can occur spontaneously and do not require organic systems to form. At that point, all that is required is for something non-living to learn self-replication by some simpler means that pre-dated the gene. There are no fossils from this time period to analyze, but there are several theories as to how self-replication of inorganic matter could occur, including the primordial soup theory and the "primordial pizza" or clay substrate theory. Once that happens, you basically have the beginnings of life.
See the links below for more details. Or check out and read "The Blind Watchmaker: Why The Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design" by Richard Dawkins.
2006-06-15 18:51:08
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answer #1
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answered by magistra_linguae 6
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That's a question open to much debate. One of the postulated mechanisms involves multicomponent chemical reactions. The basic idea is that if you take a variety of small molecules thought to have been present in large quantities in the early Earth's atmosphere and hit them with enough energy (like a lightning bolt, for example), you will get small biomolecules like amino acids as some of the reaction products. (Look up the Miller-Urey experiment.)
As far as how one starts with small biomolecules and ends up with a cell, that's a very long and complicated process. The fundamental link, though, are self-replicating molecules. Prions, infectious proteins that cause diseases like mad-cow disease, are an example of self-replicating molecules. A self-replicating molecue has an advantage over a molecule that gets made once and just sits there. Cooperation among several self-replicating molecules and successive generations of process improvement could theoretically lead to the assembly of a simple cell, like an archaebacterium.
That's one way a non-living molecule could have become part of a living cell. Scientifically, it's a reasonable path, though I doubt it will ever be proven since molecules don't leave fossils.
The metaphysics of that question are another kettle of fish entirely, and one that science is not equipped to deal with. Was God involved? That's a matter of faith. There is no experiment that can be run to determine what role, if any, God played in the process, so science cannot comment on the matter. It ultimately boils down to the opinions of the observer. Some people would look at the theory of abiogenesis and dismiss it as poppycock because it does not necessarily involve God. It does not exclude God, but neither does it invoke God. Other people would look at abiogenesis and decide that it is a valid possibility.
In any event, abiogenesis is one relatively reasonable hypothesis about how life could have arisen out of inorganic material.
2006-06-15 19:00:21
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answer #2
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answered by nardhelain 5
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Well, the differentiation between living and non-living is not that sharp. One only has to look at the boundaries such as viruses and bacterial spores to know that. A whole range of existence is possible between a decidedly non-living object and a decidedly simple life-form. Even in macro-organisms, meiosis and mitosis is a fact of life! From a different perspective, isn't it apparent that a cell uses non-living basic elements, and all of a sudden forms a new cell?
2006-06-15 18:05:57
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answer #3
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answered by noitall 5
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each and each of the theories given are incorrect both the creationist ones and the "clinical" ones. as a remember of incontrovertible truth that it began at the same time as God defecated and his feces only spread out in the course of the commonly used lavatory bowl. All existence in the universe is products of God's TURD and also you only haven’t realized it yet. quickly She/he/it (Sh/I/T for short ) will flush the lavatory and that is going to all bypass down the drain. in the mean time only till now he does he would consider his act of self alleviation and experience sturdy about having exceeded yet an extra desirable commonly used pile of CRAP. and then the total component will repeat itself. apart from...and it truly is how that is....Sh/I/T himself is likewise a SWIRLING PILE OF CRAP in a higher and wider and more desirable encompassing commonly used lavatory bowl and is fairly a lot to be FLUSHED down a higher DRAIN. similar to a mirror reflecting yet another mirror and the mirrored image of each is pondered in the different to infinity....except that the image being pondered isn't some thing yet an unlimited PILE OF EXCREMENT. in case you doubt any of this then only go searching you on the issue of the international. Don’t tell me garbage about the impressive thing about the planet and the sky and the celebrities and all that meaningless drool. if you're ravenous or being raped or having your leg amputated or getting robbed or or or or….you received't provide as a lot as sniff the roses….you'll only be smelling the refuse round you called humanity…..the most virulent virus to have contaminated the earth.
2016-10-30 23:38:32
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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they didn't some say that carbon from some of the first bodies of water along with other nutrients formed to make bacteria then they evolved in to single cel multiple cell plankton fish etc......
other people say we came from stardust or if your a christain god created the earth in seven days
2006-06-15 19:00:11
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answer #5
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answered by i am me=D 3
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Well.. If you look at frankenstine, it wasn't that far off the track.
There have actually been experiments done which can make "life" from salts, minerals, warm water and electricity....
It's an amazing thing to watch. I tell you!!!
2006-06-15 18:12:24
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answer #6
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answered by simsjk 5
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oh there must be more to elements than we know. all is energy and there is a tendency for energy to react with energy. the formation of something out of that activity is not so suprising, to me anyhow.
2006-06-15 17:40:40
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answer #7
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answered by Loka 2
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They wanted to go where no other had gone before!
2006-06-15 21:40:55
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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If you look at how complex we are and how the world is, you can tell they didn't.
2006-06-15 17:38:59
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Very simple...God
2006-06-15 17:44:28
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answer #10
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answered by joeandginger 1
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