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Can Evolution explain the origins of life?

Can Evolution explain the origins of life?

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Zinc? Can you point me to more information?
From my dictionary:

Zinc is a trace element that is a component of several enzymes, including DNA and RNA polymerases and carbonic anhydrase. Zinc salts are used in skin lotions, eye washes, and treatment and prevention of footrot and facial eczema.

I think maybe you mean that enzymes containing zinc can be used to synthesize DNA and RNA, rather than zinc itself. It is pretty useful stuff, though. Good for cauterizing cuts on your fingers(ouch).

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Originally posted by scottishinnz
Here you are arguing against saltationism, not evolutionism. And the ultimate incarnation of saltationism? Creationism.
My google is busted. If you want to debate using hit and run tactics preferring to hide behind the variance in the definition of terms then you will always find a way to punctuate your equilibrium into remaining resolute and not having to deal with the possibility that in the quest for finding rational explanations for the origins for life, science has hitched a ride with shamans totting ouja boards at the very worst, yet at the very best it is no better than sloppy journalism or bad detective work that would frame a priest as a murderer because they were at the scene of someones funeral.

You say the ultimate form of saltationism is creationism. Stephen Jay Gould himself says that 'evolutionary trees' are redundant as all the phyla including hominids appear in the fossil record at the same time. It seems as science converges to embrace an 'evolutionary lawn' as being a more relevant starting point, the impetus for all the activity points to saltationism as being the kicker. If that introduces creation or intelligent design as being a more preferable option to explain the complexity in the origins of life, then so be it.

btw: If you are an academic I wouldn't have thought that reading a long post would have troubled your comprehensive abilities. Must be the short attention span of the y-gen, simpsons watching, adhd prone, post modern relativism that makes any opinion true.

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Originally posted by whiterose
From my dictionary:

Zinc is a trace element that is a component of several enzymes, including DNA and RNA polymerases and carbonic anhydrase. Zinc salts are used in skin lotions, eye washes, and treatment and prevention of footrot and facial eczema.

I think maybe you mean that enzymes containing zinc can be used to synthesize DNA and RNA, rather than ...[text shortened]... zinc itself. It is pretty useful stuff, though. Good for cauterizing cuts on your fingers(ouch).
No no, elemental zinc can be used as a catalyst for DNA replication, albeit slow and not very effective.

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Originally posted by kmax87
My google is busted. If you want to debate using hit and run tactics preferring to hide behind the variance in the definition of terms then you will always find a way to punctuate your equilibrium into remaining resolute and not having to deal with the possibility that in the quest for finding rational explanations for the origins for life, science has hitche ...[text shortened]... e y-gen, simpsons watching, adhd prone, post modern relativism that makes any opinion true.
Nope, just busy.