Still feeling lucky?

Evolution theory basically states that through a series of beneficial mutations, lifeforms became diversed. Sounds simple and logical enough.

Carrying on from the last article (Feeling Lucky?) where we discussed about the impossibility of forming even the first dna. Now let us say that the first DNA did form. What are the chances that the cell could have mutated to another beneficial organism?

Scientists all agree that mutation is very rare. The chance of it happening is about 1 in 10 to the power of 7 (i.e. 1 with 7 zeroes behind it). Now, the probability of 2 cells mutating in such a way that they interconnect with each other - (10 to the power of 7) x (10 to the power of 7) = 10 to the power of 14. What is the probability of 3 cells mutating in such a way that they interconnect with each other? Yes, you got it right - it is 10 to the power of 21 (1 with 21 zeroes behind it).

Now remember how old do scientists claim the earth to be? Yes, you got it right - it is 30 billion years or 10 to the power of 18 seconds old (1 with only 18 zeroes behind it).

An average animal has about 100 trillion cells. For it to mutate so that all the 100 trillion cells can interconnect with each other would lead to 1 out of 10 to the power of 700,000,000,000,000 (i.e. 1 with 700,000,000,000,000 zeroes behind it - don't try writing it, you can't finish it) chance.

Multiply that by the thousands of animals out there...

Only if you really really really really feel very very very very lucky (to the power of 10 to the power of 700,000,000,000,000), I would suggest you put your last dollar somewhere else.