Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigation.

Outline

I.  Darwin speculates about the origin of life

II.  Oparin’s theory of “Chemical Evolution” is defined

III.  Protein molecules

   A.  heir purpose and structure

   B.  Their construction

      1.  Amino acids

      2. Properly sequenced chains

      3. Correct shape results in correct function

IV.  Mathematical Probabilities

   A.  Creating a protein by purely random processes

   B.  Creating the simplest living cell

Key Points

There are 20 different types of amino acids.

The smallest proteins in nature are comprised of about 100 amino acids.

The simplest cell requires over 600 proteins in order for it to be alive.

There are at least 30,000 distinct types of proteins, each made of a different combination of the same 20 amino acids.

Key Words

• Amino Acids
• Cell
• Chemical Compounds
• Chemical Evolution
• Darwin’s Tree of Life
• Molecules
• Protein molecules