# Well, it probably won't shut up creationists... \[self-replicating RNA enzyme systems\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 12, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901 "2009-01-12T12:08:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/1 "2009-01-12T12:08:54Z")
…but it goes a long way towards a really elementary and convincing argument regarding the origins of life: For the first time, indefinitely self-replicating RNA enzyme systems have been [created in the lab](http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/comment/reply/18191). And what’s even more, they evolve: > [@](#): > > Most of the time the replicating enzymes would breed true, but on occasion an enzyme would make a mistake by binding one of the subunits from one of the other replicating enzymes. When such “mutations” occurred, the resulting recombinant enzymes also were capable of sustained replication, with the most fit replicators growing in number to dominate the mixture. Who’s for shipping the mix to some distant planet for some hot, steamy, panspermic action? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/2 "2009-01-12T12:57:06Z")
Sure, who doesn’t love panspermic action? Shame it’s so much trouble to clean up after. What? Seriously, though, this is cool. We’re on the trail of abiogenesis! ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/3 "2009-01-12T13:17:10Z")
Super cool. It’s about time we found this out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/4 "2009-01-12T13:42:50Z")
Awesome! Guess I’m gonna be reading about this for the next 3-4 hours instead of going to bed… ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/5 "2009-01-12T13:46:00Z")
Why do you hate God? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/6 "2009-01-12T13:55:53Z")
Right now, humans are further along than we’ve ever been before. Right now, humans know more than we’ve ever known before. Right now, humans are able to do more than we’ve ever been able to do before. Pretty cool, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/7 "2009-01-12T14:27:23Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > …but it goes a long way towards a really elementary and convincing argument regarding the origins of life: For the first time, indefinitely self-replicating RNA enzyme systems have been [created in the lab](http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/comment/reply/18191). > > And what’s even more, they evolve: > Who’s for shipping the mix to some distant planet for some hot, steamy, panspermic action? 😃 But WHO CREATED THE LAB in all it’s Irreducible Complexity? Huh Huh? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/8 "2009-01-12T15:26:46Z")
Finally, we can all be GODS! Actually, let that stuff stew in a lab for a couple million years, then check in after and see what kind of critters come out. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/9 "2009-01-12T16:20:17Z")
Sounds like a pretty good argument for intelligent design. After all, the RNA didn’t put itself in the petri dish. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/10 "2009-01-12T16:28:43Z")
Eh. Most Christians I know accept evolution perfectly well - myself included. So maybe this will just push some fundamentalists toward Catholicism. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/11 "2009-01-12T16:35:07Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > But WHO CREATED THE LAB in all it’s Irreducible Complexity? Huh Huh? :dubious: That’s what I was going to ask. And **cmyk** says- > [@](#): > > Finally, we can all be GODS! _raises glass & says Ernest Thesiger style_ To a new world of Gods and Monsters! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/12 "2009-01-12T16:54:55Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Right now, humans are further along than we’ve ever been before. > > Right now, humans know more than we’ve ever known before. > > Right now, humans are able to do more than we’ve ever been able to do before. > > Pretty cool, isn’t it? Then think about how cool it’ll be in fifty years. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/13 "2009-01-12T18:17:31Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Well, it probably won’t shut up creationists. Nope, not a bit. When you can breath life into dust get back to us. [QUOTE=cmyk] Finally, we can all be GODS! [/QUOTE] 2000 years too late: [QUOTE=John 10:34] Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’ ? [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/14 "2009-01-12T18:30:25Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Nope, not a bit. When you can breath life into dust get back to us. > 2000 years too late: Ha ha, yes, let’s hold up the Bible against the achievements of modern science. That comparison should be good for a laugh or two. (Does that make me one of the new asshole atheists that people are complaining about these days?) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/15 "2009-01-12T18:39:39Z")
> [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](#): > > Ha ha, yes, let’s hold up the Bible against the achievements of modern science. That comparison should be good for a laugh or two. OK, lets start with Sodom and Gomorrah at about 4000 BC vs Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945 AD. > [@](#): > > (Does that make me one of the new asshole atheists that people are complaining about these days?) Nope, just a person following a different god. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/16 "2009-01-12T18:43:21Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > OK, lets start with Sodom and Gomorrah at about 4000 BC vs Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945 AD. > > Nope, just a person following a different god. Nope, just one fewer. Which is about right. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/17 "2009-01-12T18:54:57Z")
This is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/18 "2009-01-12T19:00:01Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > But WHO CREATED THE LAB in all it’s Irreducible Complexity? Huh Huh? :dubious: This is actually the fundie Christian belief, that God exists outside of Spacetime and created the entire observable Universe in six days, 6012 years ago, solely for Earth’s benefit. Which, when you consider all those billions of galactic superclusters, each comprised of wasted galaxies filled with dead, empty solar systems serving no useful function, can only lead to one conclusion…God works for the government! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/19 "2009-01-12T19:01:07Z")
Yeah, all it took was carefully controlled laboratory conditions set up by someone who knew what the end result was meant to look like. Not _quite_ a monkey-and-typewriter undertaking. Incidentally, I thought that evolution and abiogenesis were meant to be distinct topics? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901/20 "2009-01-12T19:04:29Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Nope, just one fewer. Which is about right. Both Jesus and **cmyk** have stated that ‘men are gods’, so in that respect with man as the ultimate authority as a general doctrine of atheism, atheism is one of the most, if not the most polytheistic religion in the world today. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-it-probably-wont-shut-up-creationists-self-replicating-rna-enzyme-systems/480901.md?page=2)