Causation and the origin of life. Metabolism or replication
first?  Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel. Origins of Life and Evolution
of Biospheres (Impact Factor: 1.83). 07/2004; 34(3):307-21.
DOI:10.1023/B:ORIG.0000016446.51012.bc Source: PubMed  ABSTRACT
The conceptual gulf that separates the 'metabolism first' and
'replication first' mechanisms for the emergence of life
continues to cloud the origin of life debate. In the present
paper we analyze this aspect of the origin of life problem and
offer arguments in favor of the 'replication first' school.
Utilizing Wicken's two-tier approach to causation we argue that
a causal connection between replication and metabolism can only
be demonstrated if replication would have preceded metabolism.
In conjunction with existing empirical evidence and theoretical
reasoning, our analysis concludes that there is no substantive
evidence for a 'metabolism first' mechanism for life's
emergence, while a coherent case can be