Abiogenesis theory is certainly based on a lot of ifs and maybes of what was the early earth's environment.
It is a study of what might have happened, but I can't see abiogenesis ever being "proven beyond a reasonable doubt", as evolution has (of course an opinion that many creationists don't agree with).
To put it differently:
We have the "fact" of evolution - The theory of evolution is the best effort to explain the mechanisms.
We do NOT have the "fact" of abiogenesis - But it is one of the possible starting points, from which evolution happened. The theory of abiogenesis is the best effort to explain the mechanisms of a possible "non-fact".
So once again it is stated: "Even if the current state of abiogenesis theory is falsified, the fact of evolution remains the same".
No claims what-so-ever, of being a biologist, biochemist, or biowhateverist,
Moose
ps: Source references are a good thing, as best you can.
[This message has been edited by minnemooseus, 09-29-2002]