Warning: A half baked thought to seek reviews as I am presently travelling as of today i.e., 28th April 2023 and plan to do so in coming days too, but wanted to get this out of my mind...
One trigger/excuse: I read the news in the past few days that Indian government has decided to remove the evolution, phylogeny, and origin of life topics altogether from the schoolbooks. I don’t understand where this is going to take the Indian conservatives (responsible for this decision) and their children. I believe this thought might have come entirely from the Western conservative thoughts whose belief in the recent origin of our earth contradicts with their thought process. But I believe in Indic theology there was scope to keep evolution alive due to presence of diverse thoughts…. Anyway
The biggest mystery which remains to be solved is the origin of ourselves or everything else in our surrounding.
I believe there exists two major tracks using which we can solve these problems:
1. The physical way to understand the origin of the universe - (A lot of non serious blabber, salt and smoke here; conclusion drawn based on observations of field experts). At present we have well defined laws and theories which can explain the different forces acting in the universe starting from the interactions between stars, galaxies and even the subatomic particles. It seems when trying to decipher a unified field theory we go into some uncharted territories which do not seem to have any way via which they can be proven practically. I believe even if we understand what happened after The Big Bang or how the Big Bang happened, how different forces were created and how these forces are interlinked with each other then also we will be having certain questions.
For example,
a. We may need to answer what exactly was there before the great disturbance or the Big Bang?
b. How The Big Bang came into being?
c. Is there any overlap between our universe and the universe is which are present everywhere?
d. Where does this lead us to the question of an creator? Is the creator one who was responsible for an universe origin? or a creator has many universes and thus is responsible for multiple number of big bangs per his/her whims and wishes.
2. I believe there exists another approach via which we can solve the problem of universe origin, how we came into existence and how we as a species got to the point where we presently are? I believe using modern biological manipulation tools in near future we can finally lay to rest the question of any creator, or any supernatural, supervisionary power which is driving the life as we see on earth.
We already have theory of evolution which explains the diversity of life as it exists on the earth. Till date countless number of evidences have proven this theory right using various approaches; the most recent and accurate being the sequence and structural comparison at the molecular (Nucleic acid/protein) level.
Moreover, different experiments like the famous experiment of Stanley Miller regarding the origin of life has also provided a picture close to how life might have originated in the early soup which ultimately gave rise to cellular life forms. The beauty of theory of evolution is it can explain well the origin of a modern cell from some primitive replicating form easily. However, different arguments still are being given by theists regarding the complexity of life and need for an external being/agent to make it. The complexity barrier is considered too huge to be achieved.
I believe we have reached a stage in the modern biological tools where we can form a working cell in the lab conditions to disprove the need of any creator. I think once we have a life form to work upon then the theory of evolution can take over.
This self replicating life form should be able survive in the present earth environment. I am not talking about the alteration or deletions in the genome that has already been done so there remains no question that a life form cannot be created. The creation of life from scratch is something which really excites me. Now coming to the characteristics of this particular life how it should be, what basic things it should have
number one this life form should be able to survive on its own by using the different metabolites which are currently present in its surrounding.
I believe we should create a system where it can survive on a simple carbohydrate like glucose or some organic acid.
It should not be dependent on another life form for the completion of its life cycle. Why I am stressing upon this point is because we already have viruses with us which can complete their lifecycle by being in association with some other lifeform. Viruses do seem like intermediate between life and life less forms at a first glance but they can be treated or viewed as a sort of disease which is associated with their life form by the religious thought process. Similarly the mobile genetic elements like transposons, prions like forms can also be ruled out.
What I am talking about is the creation of a self replicating life form which in a simple sense means the creation of a simple cell which is able to replicate itself.
How to approach:
There were some studies which were being carried out to determine the minimum number of Genes required for in a life form. The minimum possible metabolic requirements will be needed based on current environmental situation.
THEN
Barrier generation: I believe this to be the most important part of experiment. The creation of sense of separation from outside. Whenever a complex system is isolated from outside and has ability to maintain a rough homeostasis, the variants able to better sustain and replicate will quickly dominate the population.
So what’s the key?
BIOMEMBRANE and presence of potential across it.
Why?
Presence of electrochemical potential will help to distinguish inside from outside of a system. Or in other but more imaginative controversial words:
Separation of self from surrounding; Possibly the basis of any concious experience too…
Let me know of your thoughts on the same!
Cheers!
Sandeep
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