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Author Topic:   mihkel4397: Fred Hoyle's calculation of probability of abiogenesis
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1432 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 12 of 50 (343996)
08-27-2006 4:13 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by Sumer
08-27-2006 2:52 PM


welcome to the fray Sumer.
Just a suggestion, if you type [qs]quote boxes are easy[/qs] it becomes:
quote boxes are easy
You can also use "peek mode" on replies to see how others format their replies.
So far, there is NO data that disproves his calculation of the chemical evolution.
To add to what Chiroptera said in Message 11
He simply showed that one possibility, that the amino acides and nucleotide all randomly came together to form the first cell all at once, is pretty darn unlikely.
He also did not show that NO OTHER arrangement could result in life. That is a major oversight yes?
Enjoy.
Edited by RAZD, : No reason given.

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 10 by Sumer, posted 08-27-2006 2:52 PM Sumer has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 16 by Sumer, posted 08-27-2006 5:24 PM RAZD has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1432 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 18 of 50 (344034)
08-27-2006 7:09 PM
Reply to: Message 16 by Sumer
08-27-2006 5:24 PM


Thanks, RAZD. I was looking for that. ... No, he didn't.
So you agree then that any number he came up with is totally unrealistic? Thanks.
Shouldn't the same principle be applied to both sides of the argument?
But it is. One "side" is asserting that the probability argument is valid in some way, and the other "side" is saying that the probability is hooey. We are showing why the argument is hooey.
We don't know the probabilities because we don't know the possibilities and therefore all assumptions used for any such calculation are inevitably based on ignorance. All we really know is that the probability was somewhere between 0 and 1.
And no matter what you do, you are left with the inherent problem that improbable never equals impossible.
All that was needed was to show that the argument was hooey. Done, and you've agreed with it.
.. therefore, Hoyle may be right, or he maybe wrong.
No, he won't be "right" in the sense of making an accurate model -- his model is wrong, no matter how you cut the facts.
He may have made a lucky guess, but that is the limit of his ability to be "right" on this issue -- but yes, he could have guessed correctly that life came from outer space.
Enjoy.

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 16 by Sumer, posted 08-27-2006 5:24 PM Sumer has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 20 by Sumer, posted 08-27-2006 10:45 PM RAZD has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1432 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 21 of 50 (344223)
08-28-2006 8:09 AM
Reply to: Message 20 by Sumer
08-27-2006 10:45 PM


However, his number cannot be "totally unrealistic" FOR THE SAME REASON.
whatever.
That's your opinion, and you have no corner on realistic.
In that case, show me the evidence. Show me the proof of those alleged "different ways" and "other arrangements."
The evidence is that there were no other ways considered, even to discredit them.
The evidence is that only one method of formation was considered and it has been shown not to represent reality.
That is the evidence necessary to show that the calculation is not a reasonable model of reality.
If we assume that life didn't come all at once (and we don't know that), then the components must have been separated by time and/or space. Would it make the probability even much smaller (exponentially smaller!) for the reasons I described as "logistics?"
In a word, no.
Let's look at the "probability problem" from a different angle using the same kind of "logic" used in your calculations:
Take any protein and cut it in half: what is the probability that it would rejoin in exactly the same way as it was before being cut?
We'll label the protein {A-MN-Z} and it is cut into {A-M} and {N-Z} portions, and then we see that they can join in the following combinations:
{A-M}-{Z-N}
{M-A}-{Z-N}
{M-A}-{N-Z}
{A-M}-{N-Z} .... !!!BINGO!!! 25% of the time == WOW!!!
Next we'll put them in a sea of {A-M} and {N-Z} sub-proteins, say 10^+42 just for fun. What is the probability that at least one {A-M}-{N-Z} combination would form? Well, the probability that one would NOT form is 0.75^+42 = ~0, so it must actually have happened (same creatortionista logic on probabilities = possiblities when close to unity\zero)
Now we take each sub=protein and do the same "thought experiment" with them
{A-FG-M} becomes {A-F} and {G-M} and the combinations are:
{A-F}-{M-G}
{F-A}-{M-G}
{F-A}-{G-M}
{A-F}-{G-M} .... right? Still 25% of the time (using creatortionista logic), eh?
Next we'll put them in a sea of {A-F} and {G-M} sub-proteins, say 10^+84 just for fun. What is the probability that at least one {A-F}-{G-M} combination would form? Again, the probability that one would NOT form is 0.75^+84 = ~0, again, so it MUST have happened as well. GOSH.
And then the other half:
{N-ST-Z} becomes {N-S} and {T-Z}
{N-S}-{Z-T}
{S-N}-{Z-T}
{S-N}-{T-Z}
{N-S}-{T-Z} ... still good? Still 25% of the time (using creatortionista logic), eh?
Next we'll put them in a sea of {N-S} and {T-Z} sub-proteins, say 10^+84 just for fun. What is the probability that at least one {A-F}-{G-M} combination would form? Again, the probability that one would NOT form is 0.75^+84 = ~0, once again, so it MUST have happened as well. GOSH AND GOLLY.
And we can keep going, dividing and recombining until we get down to {A-B} {C-D} {E-F} {G-H} {I-J} {K-L} {M-N} {O-P} {Q-R} {S-T} {U-V} {W-X} {Y-Z} ... or in the real world until we get down to the 20 amino acids (which we now know can be formed spontaneously or provided by extra-solar generation). In each case the probability of it NOT happening is your astronomically small probability number that YOU say is evidence that it never happened.
But we can also look at the probability of BOTH not happening -- it is
0.75^+42 x 0.75^+84 = 0.75^+42+84 = 0.75^+126
Which is LESS than either probability of it NOT happening, so it is even more likely that BOTH occurred.
By this same logic then it really MUST have happened.
This is just as "realistic" as Fred Hoyle's -- and all similar creatortionista calculations.
Unfortunately, quite a few of them think that their theories are proven facts.
Care to back that assertion with some facts?
Edited by RAZD, : No reason given.

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 20 by Sumer, posted 08-27-2006 10:45 PM Sumer has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 22 by Sumer, posted 08-28-2006 12:48 PM RAZD has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1432 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 25 of 50 (344423)
08-28-2006 7:11 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by Sumer
08-28-2006 12:48 PM


Sorry for your loss, truly.
But, you introduced this into the argument and that makes it open to be discussed as valid evidence for your argument:
My brother, the only sibling I ever had, was killed ... Is the death of my brother a good enough evidence to prove that science shouldn't treat theories as proven facts?
(1) this is the fallacy of the appeal to sympathy, which has no relevance to the validity of the argument
(2) it is anecdotal, not real evidence, and
(3) it still doesn't support your assertion ...
Nor does the death of George Washington.
There is a world of difference between treatment based on the best information available at the time, and scientists claiming that the theory is proven fact.
I'm also not sure I equate doctors in the late 1700's with being scientists as we know them today.
Both your anecdotes fall into "treatment based on the best information available at the time" and you totally and absolutely failed to present information otherwise.
Your claim regarding scientists was that:
Message 20
Unfortunately, quite a few of them think that their theories are proven facts.
You were asked for evidence to support that assertion. This takes the form of quotes from scientists with the claim that "(theory x) is a proven fact" - you have not done so. And because you claimed "quite a few" you need to provide "quite a few" such quotes.
Specifically your brothers death was not such a case of theory claimed as fact, because -- in your own words -- the discovery of the bacteria was coincident with his death or shortly thereafter.
Specifically George Washington's death was not such a case as this pre-dates the formalization of scientific method (~1930 see Karl Popper)
Scientific method - Wikipedia
Karl Popper - Wikipedia
If this seems harsh and uncaring, you were the one to introduce the anecdote, made an appeal for sympathy, and failed to show that it supported your position. Sorry.
I also had ulcers in the 70's and was put on a strict very bland diet where I nearly died from boredom. Does the fact that I lived change your argument? (answer: no, it is equally irrelevant to the argument).
Now ...
... to the { } of your remaining "argument":
Too bad Sir Hoyle is not around. He would have calculated the logistical problems of the modern fudge factors and would have exposed the "scientific" charlatans once again.
In other words you are admitting that you don't have the expertise, knowledge, ability OR capability to point out where my calculation is "bad".
This also means that you do not have the expertise, knowledge, ability OR capability to point out where Fred Hoyle's calculation is "good".
They must be equally valid eh?
Let's take your example and let's assume that your sub-protein is a sofa that needs to be moved from point A to point B (to your first "sea").
But you "sea" -- I don't need to "move" the protein: I'm working backwards from one already being there. Then each subsequent step backwards is also taken, and the probabilities of them NOT combining just keep multiplying down until the probability of it NOT happening is the same astronomical next to zero probability of Fred Hoyle's calculation.
According to you, this {astronomical next to zero probability} means abiogenesis is a foregone conclusion.
OR you are left with claiming that
(1) Fred Hoyle's calculation
cannot be "totally unrealistic"
(2) My calculation evaluated by someone (not you - someone that can do the probability calculations) would show
logistical problems of the modern fudge factors and would have exposed the "scientific" charlatans once again.
This is known as the fallacy of special pleading, another logical fallacy.
Of course we could average the results and end up with a 50:50 probability, it makes just as much sense as claiming one is right and the other is wrong eh?
Enjoy.
Edited by RAZD, : pyto

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by Sumer, posted 08-28-2006 12:48 PM Sumer has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by Sumer, posted 08-29-2006 4:15 AM RAZD has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1432 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 39 of 50 (344926)
08-29-2006 11:44 PM
Reply to: Message 27 by Sumer
08-29-2006 4:15 AM


All these examples show that the people involved portray the theory in question as something that actually occurred.
This claim is refuted at Message 1, soyou can apologizethere. It is off topic here.

I openly admit that I do not posses "expertise, knowledge, ability OR capability" in the filed of math on the same scale as Sir Hoyle had.
So you don't have the ability to judge whether he is blowing hot air or not. Good of you to admit it.
As to your calculation, I have already pointed to a very obvious shortcoming in your reasoning.
Those "shortcomings" are no different than the shortcomings in Dr Hoyles calculations. They are intentionally chosen to do so.
Again, either both are equally valid or each are equally invalid. your choice.
"10^+84" (wow, that's some number! You'd need all atoms in the observed Universe for that and then some more, ...
To more accurately mirror Dr Hoyle's calculation I should have used an infinite sea, as he assumes a sea with zero other molecules. Of course it is ridiculous. Equally ridiculous.
But what if we use the same number of molecules as there are atoms in 1 liter of water instead okay?
The number of atoms in a litre of water is 1.0038x10^26
from "How many atoms are in the human head?"
Questions and Answers - How many atoms are in the human head?
The number of moles is 1000/18 = 55.556 moles. The number of molecules is therefore 6.022x10^23 x 55.556 = 3.346x10^25 molecules. The number of atoms is 3 times larger because each molecule has three atoms, so there are 1.0038x10^26 atoms in a liter of water.
1 liter = 1.0x10^26 atoms
Well, the probability that one would NOT form is 0.75^26 = 0.0005, so the probability it would happen in that small a volume is 99.95% -- how many liters do I need to get one forming?
How many liters cover the surface of the earth with a 1 mm thick film?
Earth - Wikipedia
The surface of the earth is 510,065,600 km^2 = 5x10^8km^2
1 km^2 = 1000 x 1000 m^2 = 10^6 m^2
So the surface of the earth is 5x10^8 x 10^6 m^2 = 5x10^(8+6) m^2 = 5x10^(14) m^2
1 m^3 = 1000 liters
1 mm = 1 m/1000
5x10^14 m^2 x (1 m/1000) x (1000 liters/ m^3) = 5x10^14 liters
That's a lot of liters, when just a few will do eh?
Also, very importantly, do you suggest several primordial soups? Also, did you consider the medium, temperature? What is the size of the sea (concentration), etc. Also, where are the other reactions? Why there is no breakdown of the compounds?
The real answer is "we don't know" -- you don't know what prevents it and you don't know what encourages it. To base a calculation on something we know so little about is absolutely ridiculous.
The intermediate molecules could form, breakdown, reform, breakdown, form in new combinations, etcetera. We don't know what the factors are: that is why the calculation is ridiculous eh?
We have some ideas. Those ideas are being tested. There are no definitive conclusions, but there are a lot of possibilities that show promise.
And your answer was either an evasion, or a failure to analyze what I asked.
You are making the claim that all contingencies are covered -- demonstrate it.
But take these questions into consideration:
What is the minimum molecule that we need to make? How do you know?
Will similar molecules with added or extra sections NOT work? How do you know?
Will similar molecules with different sections in some places NOT work? How do you know?
Enjoy.
Edited by RAZD, : updated link to promoted version

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we are limited in our ability to understand
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RebelAAmericanOZen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 27 by Sumer, posted 08-29-2006 4:15 AM Sumer has not replied

  
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