Re:Scientists recreated classic origin-of-life experiment an...
by pfdietz on Tuesday November 02, 2021 @07:13AM
(#29079554)
Ok, I will spell it out.
"Exponentially small" here means "the probability could be ~ e^-n" where n is a number proportional to the complexity of the minimal evolving system. This would happen if there's some gap that has to be bridged by random chance before we get a system capable of sustaining natural selection.
The point here is that this could easily be vastly smaller than 1/N, where N is (say) the number of atoms in the universe x age of the universe x rate at which atoms might interact to form such systems.
I think you could have easily understood this point if you had made an effort to do so, without me having to spoonfeed it to you here.
"Exponentially small" here means "the probability could be ~ e^-n" where n is a number proportional to the complexity of the minimal evolving system. This would happen if there's some gap that has to be bridged by random chance before we get a system capable of sustaining natural selection.
The point here is that this could easily be vastly smaller than 1/N, where N is (say) the number of atoms in the universe x age of the universe x rate at which atoms might interact to form such systems.
I think you could have easily understood this point if you had made an effort to do so, without me having to spoonfeed it to you here.