Even more basic than evolution is the field of science called abiogenesis, which deals with the origins of life from non-life.  Simple experiments have shown that amino acids, the molecular units that make up proteins, can be made in lab conditions simulating Earth’s early atmosphere, and they are even found in outer space.  The other critical molecular types — lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleotides — can also result from natural chemical processes.  These molecules are not living, but abiogenesis scientists are learning many ways that life could have originated from them.

Dr. Jack Szostak, winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, has shown how primitive protocells could form with lipids as a cellular wall and a self-polymerizing nucleotide inside.  These could grow and divide driven purely by physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics.  Evolution could take it from there.

Many abiogenesis researchers think that life or its precursors could have started as RNA, and then evolved to DNA.  A very interesting experiment showed that life-like evolution can occur in a test tube, with synthesized RNA enzymes that can replicate themselves without the help of any proteins or other cellular components.  It's not biology, but it shows how evolutionary processes can happen in non-living molecules.

Remember that Earth had billions of years and countless environments to create life, while scientists have only been trying since the 1950's.  I think that we’ve made good progress.  And, even if we're not smart enough to understand the origin of life, that doesn't mean that some god did it.

For more, see articles and websites listed in our “Abiogenesis” science section.