Functions are not so rare at all, and definitely not isolated, in sequence space of biopolymers

[Dan_Eastwood]

This thread has been split to move the side discussion to a new topic. Please direct further replies on this topic to the new thread… – Thanks

Raw materials for life

What experiments specifically? As far as I know, many different experiments in abiotic organic chemistry that attempt to mimic early Earth environments of different kinds, yield compounds that bacteria can use as nutrients. Since bacteria evolve, then yes. But of course that depends on the specific experiment and the environment it simulates, and therefore the products produced. Some experiments have shown that iron can reduce CO2 to common metabolites found in the Kreb’s cycle. All life on Earth can eat that. You seem to be asking a much deeper question than what this thread(and the paper in the 2nd post) is trying to address. Here we are discussing(and the purpose for which I am citing that paper) whether genes with new functions can evolve when there is already evolution going on. This whole thread (though not necessarily the scenario conceived as the context in that paper) is based on the premise that life already exists and is evolving. But I get the sense you want to know ho…

/fnord