Claim CB020:
Abiogenesis assumes life was created by processes still operating today,
so new life should still be appearing today.
Source:
Morris, Henry M. 1985. Scientific Creationism. Green Forest, AR: Master
Books, pg. 46.
Response:
- Conditions today are different from conditions in the past in two
important ways: First, there was little or no molecular oxygen in the
atmosphere or oceans when life first appeared. Free oxygen is reactive
and would likely have interfered with the formation of complex organic
molecules. More importantly, there was no life around before life
appeared. The life that is around today would scavenge and eat any
complex molecules before they could turn into anything approaching new
life.
created 2001-2-17
