"Jim Menegay"  wrote in message
news:brtsis$2lpc$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...
> Anthony Cerrato  wrote in message
news:...
> > ... [Snip] ...The only
> > question is where do genes come from?--Are there any
good
> > models outside of Kaufman-like autocatylytic enzyme
chains
> > in a non-linear dynamic "soup" far from
> > equilibrium...chaos...and chance?    ...tonyC
>
> It is odd, to say the least, to respond twice to the same
question,
> especially when the question was not directed to me. ;-/
But it
> occurs to me, on reflection, that my first answer may have
completely
> missed your point.
>
> Are you suggesting that some other process (besides
natural selection)
> is needed in order to somehow "bootstrap" a collection of
random
> genes into a collection of somewhat effective genes?  And,
that
> natural selection cannot, somehow, "gain traction" until
this takes
> place?  That only a somewhat-effective starter system can
evolve to
> a very-effective final system under natural selection?

No, I wasn't suggesting anything like that--interesting
question though. I don't really think that anything besides
neo-Darwinian evolution is required, once just a relatively
chemically stable proto-gene is originated.

> I suspect that Tim would deny that any such bootstrap
process is needed.
> Me, I'm intrigued by the suggestion, but dubious that
Kauffman is
> on the right track regarding the nature of the bootstrap,
if one is
> actually needed.

I think the only thing needed as the initial bootstrap to
life itself is the general autocatylitic
processes/conditions Kauffman describes--with the right mix
of _myriad_ autocatylitic polymers and enzymes (for
activation energy lowering) that IS the bootstrap, isn't it?
:)  I don't recall his mention of specific bootstrapping
otherwise though in this context in his book, At Home in the
Universe: The Search for Laws of Self-Organization and
Complexity (which is all of his I've read--and that was a
while ago.)             ...tonyC
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