protocells videos

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Harvard Medical School scientists believe they are closer to creating life out of non-living matter—but there are good reasons to doubt it. Molecular biologist Jack Szostak and his team are building simple cell models that can almost be called life,1 according to an online report. They hope these protocells made from fatty molecules will trap precursors to nucleic acids and hold them long enough for these chemical precursors to begin to copy themselves. Such replication is thought to have jump-started the evolution of life. In a recent edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Szostak published his work on the special membranes he believes could have been involved in this process.2 Though considered as close as anyone has ever come to turning chemicals into biological organisms,1 this whole endeavor has immense hurdles to clear before it can demonstrate the possibility that life spontaneously generated from non-life. Here are just a few of the obstacles...

Embark on an educational journey through the course of time. Beginning at the big bang, take a tour through the formation of atoms. Next the cosmos, including our solar system and earth itself, will form right in front of your eyes. You will then witness the origin of life and human evolution. From here follow the footsteps of the earliest humans into ancient history, ultiamtely arriving into modern day!

Embark on an educational journey through the course of time. Beginning at the big bang, take a tour through the formation of atoms. Next the cosmos, including our solar system and earth itself, will form right in front of your eyes. You will then witness the origin of life and human evolution. From here follow the footsteps of the earliest humans into ancient history, ultiamtely arriving into modern day!

Take a journey through the course of time through the big bang, the formation of atoms, the solar system and earth's formation, the origin of life, human evolution, ancient history, to modern day!

The work by Janet Iwasa is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

The question I'm presenting to atheists isn't being answered to my liking. Perhaps a SMART atheist can set me straight for a change? Don't worry. I won't pull, delete, or edit your comments no matter HOW many names you may call me. I mean, I'm not a Muslim, even though most of my videos so far have been created to study Islam WITH Muslims. Just like you, I'm a life form who has no memory of asking to be born into a world that seems very perplexing, and, I feel we are here to learn as well as help our fellow life travelers, if we can. So, ALL comments are welcome, even those that are insulting. Personally, though, IF you are insulting, please make them witty and original. I like a good roast.

You might have seen 'The Origin of Life - Abiogenesis' video by cdk007. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6QYDdgP9eg In it he describes one of the best leading models put forth by Jack W. Szostak et al. This is an interview of Jack W. Szostak discussing his latest paper: "Template-directed synthesis of a genetic polymer in a model protocell". It was published online by Nature, 4 June 2008. http://genetics.mgh.harvard.edu/szostakweb/publications/Szostak_pdfs/Mansy_et_al_Nature_2008.pdf The animations viewed in this video are taken from the website http://exploringorigins.org Check it out if you want to learn more. Please note that animations and illustrations from the Exploring Life's Origins project are licensed under a Creative Commons License, and may be freely downloaded for non-commercial uses with proper attribution.

A response to a video by coonkiller92 links: Dawkins videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUOpaFVgKPw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb2fjftZrkE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEKyqIJkuDQ Other links: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/mg19526114.000-countdown-to-a-synthetic-lifeform.html http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?ch=specialsections&sc=biofuels&id=19128&a= Protocells/synthetic life: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080605113009.htm

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