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Did Life Begin in an "RNA World"?

The "RNA World" hypothesis for the origin of life is implausible for several reasons, among them the difficulty of producing RNA naturalistically, its relative instability in water over time, the problem of chirality, and the insufficiency of RNA to form a living cell. Published in Origins v. 20., n. 1.

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The Puzzle of the Petrified Trees

It is unwarranted to assume a priori, as in the past that all upright petrified trees had grown in the place where they are now found. The transport of trees and their deposition in an erect stance is not as unlikely or as rare as might be expected. Upright fossil trees within the geological column are compatible with a Flood model. Actually, when all factors are considered, a catastrophe involving water and many floating trees is a more satisfactory explanation for their origin.

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Fossils and Compassion

Early in the history of paleontology, a university professor with an interest in fossils was tricked into collecting fabricated objects as fossils and published a book illustrating these false productions. As a result, Johann Beringer was ridiculed unmercifully. This is not a good example to follow. We all make mistakes, and we should show compassion when we find errors in the work of others. Published in Origins v. 19 n.2.

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Reactions

Response by Gerald Aardsma to letter to the editor by Robert Brown regardng the article, Correlation of C-14 Age With the Biblical Time Scale (Origins 17:56). Published in Origins v. 19, n.2.

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Sociobiology: The Evolution Theory's Answer to Altruistic Behavior

Evolution theory is based on competition and struggle for survival, but some animals act in a way that favors reproduction of other individuals and reduces their own competitive status. The theory of sociobiology wants to explain this altruistic behavior as having a genetic basis, so that individuals with the gene tend to help other individuals with the same gene,.This maintains the gene in the population. The idea that human behavior is genetically determined is controversial. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 2.

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Annotations from the Literature

A collection of short commentaries on scientific papers published in 1991, covering topics such as Permian trees, molecular genetics, epigenetics, inheritance of paternal mtDNA, water and formation of petroleum, water in mantle rocks, impacts, Ordovician volcanism, molecular phylogenies of ratites, termites, cichlids and sabertooths, osteocalcin in dinosaur bones, fossil flowers, origin of life, Precambrian predation, stromatolites, Cambrian Explosion, quality of fossil record, rapid speciation, tree biogeography, Miocene ape, fossil dermopteran, Asian marsupial, dinosaurs, mammal-like reptile. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 2.

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An Age-Old Question

A review of the book, The Age of the Earth. Presents the standard interpretation of radioisotope data. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 2.

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The Search for Relatives

A review of the book, The Early Evolution of Metazoa and the Significance of Problematic Taxa. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 2.

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Life in the Deep Rocks and the Deep Fossil Record

Microorganisms can exist in rocks several kilometers below the surface of the earth. Recently a number of reports indicate that these organisms are much more common than previously surmised and that vast regions of the underworld may be inhabited. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 2.

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The Search for an Evolutionary Mechanism

Several ideas have been proposed over the past two centuries to explain how organisms could have evolved through naturalistic processes. None of them seems viable, and it seems reasonable that creation should be considered as an explanation. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 1.

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Reactions

Readers are invited to submit their reactions to the articles in our journal. Please address contributions to: Origins, Geoscience Research Institute, 11060 Campus St., Loma Linda, California 92350 USA.

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Cosmology and Genesis: The Road to Harmony and the Need for Cosmological Alternatives

The current scientific picture of the origin of the Universe seems at odds with the Genesis account. Is this a serious problem for those who believe the latter to be reliable? Are there ways to harmonize the two? Or should we be looking for alternatives to the so-called Standard Model for the origin of the Universe? Published in Origins v. 19, n. 1.

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Annotations From the Literature

A collection of short commentaries on scientific papers published in 1992, covering topics such as gene conversion, paleosols, magma mixing, molecular evolution, paleoecology, Precambrian algae, Cambrian explosion, conodont fossils, fossil birds and bird tracks, fossils, and taphonomy. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 1.

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A Creationist Book for Public Schools

A review of the book, Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of BIological Origins. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 1.

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Clastic Pipes and Dikes in Kodachrome Basin

The pipes and dikes in Kodachrome Basin have come from the sedimentary layers below, and raise interesting questions regarding the amount of time involved in their formation. Published in Origins v. 19, n. 1.

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Creation Holding Its Own

A recent survey shows about 9% of the population accepts the viewpoint of naturalistic evolution, about 40% accept divinely guided evolution, about 47% accept a recent creation of humans, and about 4% registered they don't know. These results are nearly the same as a similar survey taken three years before. Published in Origins v. 18, n. 2.

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Progressive Creation and Biblical Revelation: Some Theological Implications

The purpose of this essay is to examine the intellectual roots and the current status of the discussion concerning progressive creationism and to identify and evaluate eight theological implications of affirming the presence of death for millions of years prior to the appearance of humans in the geologic column. Published in Origins v. 18, n. 2.

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Interpretation of Radiocarbon and Amino Acid Age Data

Dates calculated from radiocarbon and amino acid racemization show conflict. Analysis of the discrepancies and use of a radiocarbon conversion published earlier, some inferences are drawn regarding the cooling of the earth after the biblical flood. Published in Origins v. 18, n. 2.

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Annotations from the Literature

A collection of short commentaries of scientific papers published in 1991, covering topics such as Ussher's chronology, impacts, fossil patterns, mitochondrial Eve, phylogenies, coelacanth, hagfish, Cambrian explosion, and fossil platypus.

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Darwinian Morality?

A review of the book, Created from Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism. The case is argued that Darwinism has shown that humans have no special moral significance, but should be accorded the same moral standing as any other animals species. Published in Origins v. 18, n. 2.

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