Are we then getting any closer to an understanding the origin of life (assuming it had one)? As ever there is much optimism that indeed we are making progress. On the other hand, it often appears as if the origin of life question has become bogged down in ever increasingly sophisticated organic chemistry. The reality is that, despite the egos of some, the existence of life remains a mystery. It is not merely that biology is scratching the surface of this enigma; the reality is that we have yet to see the surface! – Milton Wainwright, molecular biologist, “Musings on the Origin of Life and Panspermia,” Journal of Cosmology, Vol. 5 (Jan. 30, 2010)
This and many similar comments from researchers on the nature of the difficulty of origin of life research are available here.
See also: With Enceladus the toast of the solar system, here’s a wrap-up of the origin-of-life problem
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