Arguments for
Intelligent Design usually bring forth the concept of
irreducible complexity involving quite complex biological molecules which would loose their function if only slightly different.
We argue here, though, that people are starting with a notion of
life itself that is already too advanced, specialized, and evolved. To study
abiogenesis, one needs to consider a "proto-life" concept that minimally differentiates a living process from a non-living process. We argue here that all the complicated biological molecules (proteins, DNA, RNA, etc.) came much later.
In the development of these concepts, we will borrow some ideas from the late theoretical biologist
Robert Rosen in his concept of
Metabolism-repair. The specific definitions and treatments of these ideas, though, are our own.
Although the concepts pertaining to abiogenesis may be of an academic interest, they could also have practical applications in
chemical manufacturing.
| Metabolism |
- |
The process of converting material inputs to material outputs by the "labor" of material "worker" agents. |
| Repair |
- |
The manufacture (or material replacement) of the "worker" agents from material inputs |
Simple diagrams
The most simple diagram representing a process would be agent
c converting input
a to output
b.
This is represented as
c:a->b.
Red letters are used to indicate when a substance is acting as an agent that manufactures or converts other substances.
Black letters are used to indicate reactants or products. A product can later be used as an agent. If so, then it will be subsequently shown
red.
If this reaction where to take place in a reaction chamber with inputs and outputs, it could be represented where
a and
c come from the environment and
b is released back into the environment. Assume that
c gets degraded or worn down over time and periodically needs to be replaced.
What if
c is very expensive or hard to find or maintain?
If it is possible to find another agent
d that can convert
b into
c, then the following diagram can be formed where
a and
d come from the environment and
b and
c are manufactured within the system.
Complex diagrams
What if
d is also very expensive or hard to find or maintain?
If it happens that
b (from within the system) can convert
c into
d, then the system can replace all of its manufacturing agents.
We claim that the concept of internally manufacturing all of the agents that convert or manufacture other entities is the key differentiator between the living and non-living.
In such a system, it would be possible, if desired, to tap
b or
c as products released to the environment along with
d.
In this case it would not be possible, though, to limit the reaction chambers to the reactions indicated.
For example, in the chamber
c:a->b,
b would start to operate on
c to manufacture
d. Then
d would start to operate on
b to manufacture
c.
There is not enough separation between these processes to maintain dedicated reaction chambers.
It would be desirable to have dedicated reaction chambers to better regulate the reaction flow to optimize production of the final product.
Next we will look at larger systems with additional reaction chambers.
Created on 02/04/2003 10:24 AM by admin
Updated on 05/05/2009 02:24 PM by jprideaux
|
|
