True. But the number is so large that it's hard to fathom.
Let's say that we wanted to know every possibility of the 3.2 billion base pairs of human DNA. (This will be a huge over-estimate, but a good upper limit, and easy to understand). That's 3.2109 positions, each with 4 possibilities. Or 3.21036 different combinations.
The entire universe only has 71022 stars. So that means that even if every star had a habitable planet, there would be 51013 different individuals per planet.
Our planet, which we think is pretty crowded as is, currently has about 8*109 people. So we would need about 6000 times as many people on Earth just to reach our planets "quota".
Imagine where youre sitting right now. Probably on the toilet. And there are suddenly 5999 more people in the same space. Make you feel small?
Anyway bad estimate, I know, but that is just using the human genome size as starter. We are by no means the largest genome size. Most plants are bigger, as much as 50 times the size of our genome.
Gotta catch em all
True, but with 3.2 billion base pairs in human DNA the number of possible combinations is essentially infinite for all practical purposes
This person is correct, but if I oversimplify it, I can make it sound like _I'm_ the one that's correct.
But you're not.
But are you?
I'm not a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin purple people eater
But are you?
That's like saying because there are a finite number of letters in the alphabet there are a finite number of books that can be written.
Please define DNA and "finite molecule" for us.
I'm fairly certain you will then understand that this doesn't make sense.
You are also assuming all "creatures" are made from DNA, which is about as likely as God making the universe in 7 days.
It's possible, but highly improbable.
True. But the number is so large that it's hard to fathom.
Let's say that we wanted to know every possibility of the 3.2 billion base pairs of human DNA. (This will be a huge over-estimate, but a good upper limit, and easy to understand). That's 3.2109 positions, each with 4 possibilities. Or 3.21036 different combinations.
The entire universe only has 71022 stars. So that means that even if every star had a habitable planet, there would be 51013 different individuals per planet.
Our planet, which we think is pretty crowded as is, currently has about 8*109 people. So we would need about 6000 times as many people on Earth just to reach our planets "quota".
Imagine where youre sitting right now. Probably on the toilet. And there are suddenly 5999 more people in the same space. Make you feel small?
Anyway bad estimate, I know, but that is just using the human genome size as starter. We are by no means the largest genome size. Most plants are bigger, as much as 50 times the size of our genome.