Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
3 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,815 Year: 3,072/9,624 Month: 917/1,588 Week: 100/223 Day: 11/17 Hour: 0/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Only 1 Tree of Life?
tuffers
Member (Idle past 5276 days)
Posts: 92
From: Norwich, UK
Joined: 07-20-2009


Message 1 of 28 (528526)
10-06-2009 11:22 AM


While I fully accept the Theory of Evolution, I do find it astonishing that there is apparently only 1 Tree of Life on this planet.
Did life really start from scratch on only 1 occasion, relatively early in the Earth’s history, and never again since?
If the Earth is in this so-called Goldilocks Zone, where it is not too hot and not too cold, where there is plenty of water, where conditions are so perfect for life to exist, it seems extraordinary that life has not started on many occasions over the past few billion years. The Earth clearly is a perfect place for life as we know it to flourish once it gets started.
I wondered if anyone with a good technical knowledge of biology or chemistry had any ideas on whether or not it would be difficult for a 2nd Tree of Life to get started on this planet, even if it had exactly the same DNA basis as the 1st Tree of Life. Or would it be indistinguishable from the 1st Tree of Life (I.E. could there already be more than 1 Tree of Life but it would be impossible to tell)?
If there really is only 1 Tree of Life and no technical reason why other Trees of Life couldn’t easily flourish once they got started, my conclusion would be that it must have been in the region of a trillions-to-one chance that life ever got started on this planet (otherwise it would have happened many times), and therefore even if there are trillions other planets similar to the Earth, the chance of there being any life on any of them is virtually zero.

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Dr Jack, posted 10-06-2009 11:43 AM tuffers has not replied
 Message 6 by Phage0070, posted 10-06-2009 12:14 PM tuffers has not replied
 Message 7 by Matt P, posted 10-06-2009 12:57 PM tuffers has replied
 Message 8 by slevesque, posted 10-06-2009 12:59 PM tuffers has replied
 Message 9 by Perdition, posted 10-06-2009 12:59 PM tuffers has not replied
 Message 12 by Taz, posted 10-08-2009 12:39 AM tuffers has replied

  
tuffers
Member (Idle past 5276 days)
Posts: 92
From: Norwich, UK
Joined: 07-20-2009


Message 10 of 28 (528879)
10-07-2009 11:13 AM
Reply to: Message 8 by slevesque
10-06-2009 12:59 PM


Hi Slavesque
Sorry if I duplicated your earlier question!
I was thinking on exactly the same lines as you - I understand why it might be hard for new life to get off the ground today, but why didn't several trees of life get started in the first place?
It seems that may have happened but it may be a case of our tree having the best characteristics to adapt and survive over any other trees that may have started. In that case, it may be more likely than I thought that life could also have started on other planets that may be similar to the Earth. Let's all pray for that!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by slevesque, posted 10-06-2009 12:59 PM slevesque has not replied

  
tuffers
Member (Idle past 5276 days)
Posts: 92
From: Norwich, UK
Joined: 07-20-2009


Message 11 of 28 (528881)
10-07-2009 11:16 AM
Reply to: Message 7 by Matt P
10-06-2009 12:57 PM


Re: Shadow Life
Matt P
Thanks for your interesting input.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 7 by Matt P, posted 10-06-2009 12:57 PM Matt P has not replied

  
tuffers
Member (Idle past 5276 days)
Posts: 92
From: Norwich, UK
Joined: 07-20-2009


Message 13 of 28 (529063)
10-08-2009 4:16 AM
Reply to: Message 12 by Taz
10-08-2009 12:39 AM


"Actually, there were three beginnings, or trees of life: Archaea, Eubacteria, and Eukarya."
Can you or anyone back this up? Is this right? Are these 3 completely unrelated?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by Taz, posted 10-08-2009 12:39 AM Taz has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024