Mark I. Vuletic

Last updated 21 March 2008

Analysis

The second law of thermodynamics poses no barrier to abiogenesis, since all of the various environments in which abiogenesis has been hypothesized to occur are open systems, receiving a constant influx of energy from outside sources (e.g. from the sun, from electric discharge in the atmosphere, from deep sea vents), and the second law of thermodynamics concerns only closed systems. Some creationists respond that the second law of thermodynamics requires an already existing complex system to catalyze reactions even in open systems; however, there is in fact no stipulation in the second law of thermodynamics about such complex systems being required. Even were their claim correct, it would have nothing to do with the second law of thermodynamics.