[troutman]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I remember reading that the start of life on earth was a several billion to 1 event.

I don't think it is that unlikely.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller...rey_experiment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenesis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Simulator

According to researchers, preliminary tests with the simulator, under possible conditions of the early Earth, created protocells, not living but very important nonetheless.[3] According to biologist David Deamer, the machine is a game changer, and the cells produced so far are "significant". The "cells are not alive, but are evolutionary steps toward a living system of molecules ... [the simulator] opens up a lot of experimental activities that were literally impossible before.”[3] Based on initial tests with the new simulator technology, project director Rheinstadter stated that it "seems that the formation of life is probably a relatively frequent process in the universe".