Scientists Remain Clueless on the Origin of Life - James Tour

James Tour's Background and Family

• James Tour expresses his gratitude for being invited to speak at the symposium.

• He admits feeling behind in theological and philosophical aspects.

• Tour mentions his lack of success in philosophy during school.

• He apologizes for any vocal issues as he has trouble with his vocal cords.

• He introduces his family, including his four children, two grandchildren, and a son-in-law.

"Thank you so much, Peter, and thank you to each one of you for allowing me to come here and speak."

James Tour's Work and Expertise

• Tour mentions that he works in various areas, not limited to the origin of life.

• He discusses his research on nanomachines, drilling into cells, and targeting super bacteria and cancer.

• Tour highlights the companies he has started in the past six years, some focusing on nanorobotics and molecular nanomachines in medicine.

• He mentions his upcoming work on pancreatic cancer treatment and traumatic brain injury.

"I work in a number of areas that don't have anything to do with the origin of life but have to do with a whole host of materials-type topics as well as biological topics."

Definition of Abiogenesis

• Abiogenesis refers to the origin of life from non-living matter.

• Prebiotically relevant synthesis involves using chemicals and conditions presumed to be available on early Earth.

• Abiogenesis occurs before biology and biological evolution.

"Abiogenesis is the origin of life from non-living matter. For synthesis to be categorized as prebiotically relevant, we're going to have to use chemicals and conditions that are presumed to be available upon early Earth."

Characteristics of Life

• James Tour discusses the historically recognized characteristics of life.

• These include responsiveness to the environment, growth and change, reproduction, metabolism, maintaining homeostasis, being made of cells, and passing traits onto offspring.

• Some definitions also include the ability to evolve.

"The characteristics of life include responsiveness to the environment, growth and change, ability to reproduce, having a metabolism, maintaining homeostasis, being made of cells, and passing traits onto offspring."

Molecules and Evolution

• Tour explains that molecules are indifferent to life and do not care about it.

• Chemistry does not show molecules evolving towards life.

• Chemical evolution is a term that Tour finds hard to embrace as it implies molecules evolving towards life.

"Molecules don't care about life. Organisms care about life, but molecules don't. Chemistry is utterly indifferent to life."

Challenges with Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates, also known as sugars and saccharides, are complex compounds.

• Tour mentions a 14-part YouTube series he made in response to a person named Professor Dave, who discusses abiogenesis.

• Carbohydrates, especially monosaccharides, are challenging to synthesize due to the difficulties in making ribose and controlling stereochemistry.

• Chemistry involving carbohydrates is complex due to mixtures and stereochemical considerations.

"Carbohydrates are the most difficult class. Just making ribose by a simple reaction is really difficult. Controlling their stereochemistry is really hard because if you have the wrong stereochemistry, it gums up the works."

Molecules and Chemical Evolution

• Tour emphasizes that molecules, without the influence of biological entities, have never shown the ability to evolve towards life.

• Chemical evolution, as a term suggesting molecules moving towards life, is difficult for Tour to accept.

"Molecules have never been shown to evolve toward life. They don't have brains; they don't want to go in those sorts of directions. It's not something molecules want to go towards, so even this terminology 'chemical evolution' is hard for me as a chemist to embrace."

The Challenge of Polymerizing Sugars (tz:)

• Polymerizing sugars is a difficult task as the sugars themselves come in different forms such as open, six-membered closed-ring, and five-membered closed ring forms.

• Each form of sugar can have different stereoisomers, making the possible combinations numerous.

• Even a single sugar like d-glucose has 32 possible stereoisomers.

• The challenge becomes even greater when trying to polymerize six different saccharides like d-glucose, which can result in over a trillion different ways of polymerization.

• This poses a significant synthetic problem in understanding the origin of carbohydrates.

"How many ways of d-glucose could you get this to polymerize and it turns out just six of the same units is over a trillion different ways this can polymerize because you can have this o-h hooked to this center or this o-h hook to this one or this o-h hook to that one and then you can have the anomer of this hooking to each one of those and then you have this the next branch which so it's a hard hard synthetic problem."

Information is Primary, Matter is Secondary

• The origin of life is critical, particularly the origin of information in DNA or RNA.

• Information is primary, while the matter on which it is placed is secondary.

• The same information can be stored on different mediums such as flash memory, magnetic memory, or through a Wi-Fi connection.

• The information can be transferred through physical wires to servers, where it is stored in flash memory again.

• This concept has profound implications scripturally, as in the beginning was the word.

• The word became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, showing that information is primary even in scriptures.

"Information is actually primary. It's primary in the scriptures, in the beginning was the word."

Synthetic Cells and Reproduction Challenges

• Synthetic cells have been created by copying an existing bacterial genome and transplanting it into another cell.

• In 2016, a synthetic cell derived from a bacterial pathogen was made by deleting 428 genes, leaving 473 active genes.

• However, the cell could not reproduce properly, which is essential for the definition of life.

• In 2021, seven of the deleted genes were reintroduced, totaling 480 genes, and the organism was capable of reproduction.

• These examples show the challenges in creating synthetic cells and the need for careful definitions.

"So, this is why we have to be careful because they will morph definitions to make it appear as if they did something when they really didn't accomplish the task that is challenging them."

Minimal Cell Requirements

• A minimal cell requires metabolism for energy and molecular building blocks, genetic replication, information processing and transfer machinery, and a boundary membrane.

• The smallest natural genome capable of autonomous growth in a pure culture is one of M. genitalium with 580,000 nucleotides.

• The theoretical minimal gene set proposed by Mushkin and Kunin consisted of 256 genes, while another calculation suggested it could be achieved with 206 genes.

"The smallest natural genome capable of autonomous growth or laboratory cultivation in pure culture is one of M. genitalium with 580 kilobases, that's 580,000 bases or 580,000 nucleotides."

Minimum gene sets

• A gene is a distinct sequence of nucleotides that forms part of a chromosome.

• The order of nucleotides in a gene determines the order of monomers in a polypeptide or a nucleic acid.

• For a cell or virus to synthesize these polypeptides or nucleic acids, it needs to have a minimum set of 206 genes.

"So within that, you're going to have to have all of these things."

Components of the minimal gene set

• The minimal gene set must include DNA replication, repair, restriction, modification, basic transcription machinery, amino acid RNA synthesis, tRNA maturation and modification, ribosomal proteins, ribosomal function, maturation and modification, translation factors, RNA degradation, protein processing, folding, secretion, cellular division, transport, and energetic and intermediary metabolism.

• Interestingly, the researchers did not include ribosomal RNA (rRNA) or transfer RNA (tRNA) genes in the minimal gene set.

• The minimal cell will heavily rely on the import of various substrates, including all 20 necessary amino acids, as there is no biosynthetic pathway present.

"This is what the minimal gene set is going to have to have."

Complexity of building a cell

• To create a protocell or a simple cell, it is not enough to have a homogeneous membrane or simply insert DNA into it.

• The cell needs to perform a wide range of functions, including proton gradient maintenance, DNA replication, protein synthesis, cellular division, and metabolism.

• These functions collectively require the presence of a variety of molecules and structures, such as sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids.

"You're going to have to start here if you're really going to make that cell."

Challenges in polymerizing molecules

• In order to build a cell, one needs to polymerize monomeric sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids.

• The problems arise from the requirement to control stereochemistry and chiral structures during polymerization.

• Enzymes cannot be utilized since this process needs to occur without the presence of enzymes, which are not yet available.

"You can't use enzymes here because no enzymes yet."

Overcoming the challenges

• Even if scientists were given all the necessary components and the informational code for polymers, building a cell would still be a daunting task.

• The dream team could have access to all the needed small molecules, homochiral forms, proton gradient-inducing bilayers, and interactomes, and still, they would struggle to make the cell.

• The complexity of interactions and the lack of knowledge on how to orchestrate non-covalent interactions pose significant obstacles.

"But even if given all these pieces and the informational code, they cannot build a cell."

"We're nowhere close to solving this problem."

Tracking progress

• Progress in understanding the origin of life can be measured by how close we are to creating a living cell from scratch.

• However, the complexity of the cell keeps revealing itself, making the goal of building a cell even more challenging.

• Despite initial optimism, each year, new discoveries about the cell push the goal further away.

"The goal posts keep moving."

"We are further from solving this than we were formerly."

Limitations of current research

• Research claiming to have solved the origin of life puzzle often falls short of the actual accomplishment.

• Obtaining building blocks like amino acids and having them interact with membranes is not sufficient to claim a solution.

• True progress in understanding the origin of life requires tackling the complex interactions, polymerization processes, and many other unknowns.

"That's an amazing claim, but all they did is they got some building blocks."

Scientists Remain Clueless on the Origin of Life

• Despite extensive research, scientists have not been able to solve the problem of the origin of life on Earth.

"We're clueless on how this happens and when we find out how it happened, if there's a nice materialistic explanation for this, it doesn't lessen God, it's going to make him all the more magnanimous."

Misinformation and False Claims

• Claims about solving the problem of the origin of life often circulate, but they are usually baseless and not backed by scientific evidence.

• James Tour receives numerous emails claiming that a solution to the problem has been found, but upon investigation, these claims turn out to be false.

"They created a cell, they did this, and then you look at it and they haven't solved anything."

Understanding Life's Origin

• As a scientist, James Tour believes that it is possible to understand the origin of life and the evolution of complex systems in the future.

• However, this understanding will not diminish the existence of God. Instead, it will highlight the magnanimity of God's creation.

"We might understand life's origin and evolution of a complex system. We might understand all of this, but that's not going to lessen God. We'll see him as all the more magnanimous."

The Wonders of DNA

• James Tour marvels at the way information is stored in DNA and how it determines various characteristics of individuals.

• In the past, the genetic basis for traits like height was not understood, but now we know that this information is embedded in DNA.

"The way you've stored this information in there, if you had asked somebody 300 years ago, how come when the parents are tall, their offspring are tall, I don't know. Well, now we know that this is embedded in this information of the DNA."

The Role of Materialistic Explanations

• James Tour clarifies that finding a materialistic explanation for the origin of life would not diminish the existence of God. It would only emphasize God's creativity and magnanimity.

"If there's a nice materialistic explanation for this, of the chemistry that can be used to make this happen, it doesn't lessen God. It's going to make him all the more magnanimous."

Dealing with Misinformation

• James Tour advises Christian students not to be upset by false claims and proclamations about the origin of life being solved.

• He cites Deuteronomy 13:3-4, stating that these challenges may serve as tests of faith.

• It is important for individuals to hold fast to their beliefs and not be swayed by false prophets.

"Don't let these things upset you... He may just be testing your faith... These are the false prophets of our days."

The Blessings of Meditating on God's Word

• James Tour shares the importance of daily meditation on the Word of God.

• Meditating on God's law brings blessings, peace, and prosperity to one's life.

"How blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked... his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night... he will be like a tree firmly planted... and in whatever he does, he prospers."

Creativity and God

• James Tour emphasizes that creativity in various fields, including science and business, comes from God.

• He cites Exodus 31:2-3, which mentions how God filled Bezalel with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge for craftsmanship.

"Creativity in my business... It's not how smart we are that makes us excel, it's how creative we are... Creativity comes from God."

Attaining Peace through Daily Meditation

• James Tour highlights the promise of peace that comes through daily meditation on the Word of God.

• Though life may have its challenges, daily meditation brings a sense of peace and stability.

• The key to experiencing the promised blessing is to make God's Word a daily focus and source of meditation.

"The things that you have learned and received and heard and seen... Practice these things and the God of peace will be with you."

The Resurrection of Jesus

• James Tour shares the significance of Jesus' physical resurrection as the core belief for attaining a relationship with God and salvation.

• He offers to have personal Zoom calls with individuals who want to understand more about his own belief in Jesus' resurrection.

"This physical resurrection... if you cannot embrace that, but you want to know more... it would be my honor to have an individual Zoom call with you."

"This is what gets you to God... If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Daily Meditation and Peace

• Daily meditation on the word of God can bring peace.

• Engaging in a daily practice of meditating on the word of God may lead to a state of inner peace and contentment.

"The mess you get into daily meditation on, the word of God and you'll have peace."

Individual Zoom Call Invitation

• Dr. James Tour extends an invitation to set up a one-hour Zoom call with him.

• This invitation is specifically for individuals who do not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• The purpose of the call is to provide an opportunity to learn why Dr. Tour believes in the resurrection.

"I will meet with you, you could just send me tour at drjamestore.org... I'll set up a one-hour Zoom call with you and you will get saved that very day."

Assurance of Salvation

• Dr. James Tour emphasizes that anyone who participates in the Zoom call will not leave without getting saved.

• The call serves as an opportunity for individuals to experience a personal salvation encounter.

• Salvation is guaranteed to those who engage in the conversation during the Zoom call.

"You'll not leave that Zoom call... without getting saved."

Open for Questions

• Dr. James Tour concludes his presentation and opens the floor for questions from the audience.

• Attendees are encouraged to ask any related questions or seek clarification on the topics discussed during the session.

"I'll end and I'll open it up for questions."