Abiogenesis-Large molecule decays into complex molecule?

[Frog march]

Could a large inorganic molecule be made into a complex reproducing molecule by having atoms randomly knocked out of it?

[Cougar]

Could a large inorganic molecule be made into a complex reproducing molecule by having atoms randomly knocked out of it?
I suppose. But if you want a much more likely pathway, read Stuart Kauffman's At Home in the Universe (http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/susan/bib/nf/k/kauffman.htm) and then read his Investigations.

[Peter Wilson]

Could a large inorganic molecule be made into a complex reproducing molecule by having atoms randomly knocked out of it?
It would be "difficult" to do on "a" large inorganic molecule.

But give me a billion viruses (virusi?) with one H atom replaced with one fluorine atom, rendering them "dead," or inorganic. Put them in path of proton accelerator. The high-energy protons will randomly knock atoms off the large inorganic molecules. In one of them, the flourine atom is knocked off, and H atom replaces it, transmogrifying it into a "complex reproducing molecule."

So in a highly contrived experiment it can be done.

What's your point?

[Frog march]

Point-> that this might have been a path to the first living organisms though not in a "highly contrived experiment".

Your right that if that is the limit to the idea then it is not very likely.