These studies are based on the idea that scientists will be able to discover a chemical process which originally led to the spontaneous appearance of life in nature billions of years ago.

The first thing needed for such a scenario is a polymer (very long molecule) which contains information and which can duplicate itself (i.e. RNA World theories). As per the discussion of chirality, we know that scientists cannot even synthesize suitable starting molecules for assembling living cells.  With the poor results from origin of life research, you would think that scientists might be inspired to consider a creation event.

For those who find organic chemistry to their liking, there is a great 13-part video series by world class synthetic chemist James Tour who shows how bankrupt are chemical origin of life theories.  On YouTube James Tour Abiogenesis has posted links (13 separate links) to these presentations.

For those who desire something shorter and more entertaining:

• The Basic Building Blocks & the Origin of Life (YouTube, 10 min)
• Challenge to Origin of Life: Cell Membranes (YouTube, 11 min)
• The John 10:10 Project, First Life (11 min)

Related Resources

• The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution (Book) Wilder-Smith. 1981, Master Books. pp. 166. (Not out of date, and still available)
• The Information Enigma (YouTube, 21 min.)  The Discovery Institute.
• Origin (DVD, 47 min) from Illustra Media. Looks at the difficulties of finding a process to produce life.
• Unlocking the Mystery of Life (DVD, 65 min) talks about the complexity of proteins; how they are formed and the complexity of molecular machines which come from proteins.
• The High Tech Cell (DVD, 40 min) featuring Dr. Robert Carter. It starts with user friendly discussion but quickly becomes quite technical. The information is good, but demands some fairly advanced training to understand it.
• Origin of Life Part 1 (YouTube, 41 min)
• Origin of Life Part 2 (YouTube, 26 min)