Episode 5/13: Carbohydrates // A Course on Abiogenesis by Dr. James Tour

In this episode on carbohydrates, Dr. James Tour teaches the 1st class of compounds needed for life -- carbohydrates-- and comes right out of the gate, refuting the claimed triviality of their biomolecular synthesis. Rather than agree with the claim on the ease of polysaccharide synthesis, Dr. Tour explains the difficulty of their creation, including homochirality and the prebiotic problems facing multiple isomers, blind pathways, and polymerization and positioning. Also, Dr. Tour points out the fallacy of borrowing products from biology in prebiotic syntheses, and the challenge of early Earth blindly working through unfathomable procedures.

Video Index:
00:00 - Introduction
00:48 - Reasons & Intent of this Abiogenesis Series
02:45 - Correcting the Record on Polysaccharide & Biomolecular Synthesis
07:28 - Before Nucleotides, Ribose
09:48 - Cannizzaro vs Formose
13:01 - Eschenmoser's attempt
19:47 - Time & Equilibrium
22:18 - "homo-DNA" instead
23:36 - Real world difficulties
25:53 - Polymerization - Hooking the Sugars
42:36 - Summary and What's Next

Links in this Series | Addressing Abiogenesis & Common Misconceptions
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God bless you.

#Abiogenesis #JamesTour #OriginOfLife

~
WeChat - @drjamestour

[drshajigeorge]

As an organic chemist with more than 30 years of research experience from the best Universities around the world, I must agree that Professor Tour had the courage to expose the claims of so called pseudo scientists who can twist even the foundation of modern synthetic organic chemistry. I had the same views when Iisten to Professor Dave. I was expecting a fitting reply to his arguments from Professor Tour.

Professor Tour not only explained the basics of chiral chemistry but even touched the topic of conglomerates which is rarely taught in the class room.

Professor Tour, you are true to the core subjects and exposed the pseudo intellectuals. Expecting more presentations of similar nature.

While both theist and atheist are debating the basics of origin of life within our limited knowledge, spreading falsehood is unscientific and unwarranted. This trend has to change and expecting more researchers like Professor Tour should come out and defend science in open whether one believes in God or Not.

Once again thanks Professor Tour to defend both science and faith.

[gkolbeek]

I am a chemical engineer from the Netherlands and I totally understand what Dr. Tour is saying. It is clear that scientist have no clue about the origin of life. I wish we would have people like Dr. Tour here in the Netherlands to explain this to all the confused people. God bless you, Dr. Tour.

[esmirhodzic]

Mr.Tour you the boss...its such a delight listening to true experts.

[jacobthomas]

Dr. Tour, you absolutely need to be more famous I mean even more famous. Participating even more in high-profile discussions..!

[tycer]

This is better education than what I received in high school and 8 credits of college by far. Thank

[robertcapetola]

I am Medicinal chemist with a doctorate in pharmacology. Dr. Tour describes the well known difficulties in synthesizing just a few carbohydrates, yet we know the typical cell requires hundreds of unique carbs that exert very specific physiological functions. The notion that this was accomplished abiogenically far exceeds the boundaries of probability.

[sanderossi]

I feel your pain for sure dr. It is so frustrating when ignorant people talk with a lot of confidence about stuff you’re specialized in.

Many thanks for sharing this very necessary knowledge in the way you do it!

[pesmergaserene]

I have a newfound appreciation for the work all my cells do for me. Amazing!

[uncolored]

"It's tricky?! It's tricky?!" I love Dr. Tour!!

[mmLongRanger]

I’ve enjoyed this series. In the last one, Professor Tour talks about being a journal reviewer, and he’s of course spot on. A lot of horrible papers get published because no one has the time to really vet all the information in them.

[tiffanymagee]

I'm a synthetic organic chemist. These lectures are amazing. What God created our cells to do is incredible. Our bodies carry out chemical reactions with amazing efficiency and yield. I don't know any chemist who can compete with what our cells can do! Thank you for going into great detail about the impossible chemistry it would take for these theories trying to explain the origin of life to be true.

[samuelzalipsky]

Thus far I listened to the first 6 episodes, and I liked Episodes 5 and 6 the best. I have a Ph.D. in Bio-Organic chemistry and some 40 years of experience in biotechnology and pharma industries. I think this is a wonderful series, and thus far I did not noticed any inaccurate information.
The homochirality issue is a mystery.
Synthesis of biological molecules is very difficult, and great progress that was made thus far, is in large part, due to the availability of various building block derivatives and coupling agents that are obtained from biological sources. The best methods that are currently used would be impossible in a "primordial soup". People that work on synthesis of biological macromolecules often rely on chemo-enzymatic methods. This is because many of the synthetic targets (proteins, RNA, DNA, and saccharides) are not reachable yet by purely chemical methods.
I like to see the emphasis on the fact that proteins, nucleic acids and saccharides are information-carrying macromolecules. The same applies to biological membranes. The evidence is undisputable, regardless of your beliefs. This fact begs a question: what is the source of this information? In my limited experience, an intellect is the only known source of information.
Thank you, Prof. Tour for the effort you put into making these lectures and for educating those who who are curious and want to learn.

[Josdamale]

This is a quote from an article by Education Week dated March 06, 2019 on the credentials of Dave Farina:

"Farina, who taught in high school and undergraduate classrooms for 10 years before turning into a YouTuber, received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Minnesota’s Carleton College and a master’s in chemistry and science education at California State University. His career included a full-time position teaching chemistry, biology, and physics at a private school in Hollywood, and substitute teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area, before transitioning to lecturing at a trade university."

However, this is not accurate. This is another example of media hype.

Dave actually never finished the Master's program, though he made two attempts. According to Dave, on his first attempt, he dropped out to play music in a band, and on his second attempt, he lost his job teaching undergraduate chemistry at SCUHS, and could not continue his Master's.

Therefore, his highest academic credentials are a Bachelor degree in chemistry from Carleton college, and he taught an undergraduate course for about 4 semesters (approximately 2 years) at a private college called the Southern California University of Health Sciences, which offers two year degrees.

One should note, however, that Dave is not qualified to teach undergraduate level chemistry without a Master's degree.

[randyrobinson]

I am a chaplian with no chemistry training. I understand some of these concepts because Tour knows how to explain these to a layperson. What I am most clear about is that the complexity, elegance and functionality of the entities described need an intelligence that is, without any doubt, far beyond what I can imagine. The Heavens declare the glory of God as do the carbohydrates.

[tompostma]

Amazing. I don't grasp all off the chemistry, but I do get the broad idea of the intricate processes that had to occur in the natural world. No labs on prebiotic earth. Why don't evolutionist get it, when a person as me get it? Thanks Dr James, for all of your on depth lectures on this rather, and otherwise, foggy subject.

[jerubaal]

It is my Golden Sequel! Thank You dr Tour! You have made my day!

[krystynapodwalnaabebe]

Thank you Dr. Tour! You open many doors in my understanding of science! Thank you for the good fight!

[sarahs]

I am so grateful for your work as I am a biology student and a new Christian (3 months). I grew up mostly atheist. I know my faith and love for Jesus to be true but this still helps encourage me and my family/others. Lol those “scientific articles” for biogenesis are garbage reading them again. The state of academia is terrible.
I love how you are very engaging as you teach! You make concepts simple to understand without destroying scientific credibility (unlike some textbooks). My parents were glued to your videos even though they don’t know many scientific concepts. Bless you 👍

[RobSed]

thank you Dr Tour. If only those who make the origin of life seem so simple, such as "professor Dave, " had a love of the Truth in the way that you do, we would be further along. I asked Dave what his area of expertise was but he didn't answer.

[martyx]

Thank you Dr. James Tour for all your hard work and dedication. We love you and my God always bless you and keep you safe....