>> It is a mystery but we don't know there is any set of natural process that encode information.
We don't know today. That will change.
>> none of those are going to encode information.
Starting with a molecule that can self assemble, that molecule can then mutate into something more capable. That is the beauty of this chemistry.
What you call encoding is just random sequences of encoding chemicals that do something useful in its environment. If the sequence is incompatible with its environment, it dies and breaks down.... and forgotten.
However, if the sequence is valuable, it will thrive in the environment. Over time, All you have is the encoding sequence that survives in its environment.
It is perhaps a mistake to think a specific encoding as something special. It is just software that controls a machine to survive in an environment.
>> BTW if it could happen it would have happened many times and would still be happening now and there would be a wide variety of very different unrelated genetic codes in existence.
This is a good point. But chemistry and entropy favor certain outcomes over others. The ribosome we discussed earlier is highly preserved across almost all lifeforms on the planet today. The competitive advantage of this organization apparently allows it to compete for resources to the detriment of other organizations. The ribosome is a magnificent machine.
Look at the human population and how our success is detrimental to many other forms of life on the planet... including some that have been around for millions of years. The success of the human population will destroy many mammal, reptile, bird, and fish species. We will eat them all.
Once we eat all the tuna, it won't mean that the tuna species never existed. It just means it failed to survive (defend itself) and will be lost forever.
Even at the low level of self replicating molecules, life is not fair. |
