Rob writes:
Actually, it is clip 6 that covers the RNA stuff your talking about. I don't know why you would have problems with the other clips. You might just have to refresh the page.
Actually, if I am numbering them correctly, video six does not address this issue at all. The problem I am having is YouTube issuing a "This video is no longer available" message.
Rob writes:
And RNA does not spontaniously form in clays. It forms when minerals are exposed to nucleobases (assumed to be prexisting) and other catalyzing components.
Um, duh(?) What do you think spontaneous means in biochem? It is like if I said if you put two roosters in a pit together they will spontaneously fight, and you answered "No, it is not spontaneous, they only fight when they add the second rooster" Clays in the proper environment tend to organize nucleotides in a way that is remarkably similar and sometimes identical with existing RNA sequences. Those sequences, if in the right order, may catalyze the formation of identical sequences and could be a way for the first self-replicating molecule to have originated.
The link you provided is a 'twofer' for me, it not only invalidates your claim (probably should read beyond the intro, just a hint) but is an awesome and concise pop-science reference I will use in the future. So thank you for that!
"I have seen so far because I have stood on the bloated corpses of my competitors" - Dr Burgess Bowder