1. Absolutely, what I posted was just the first part, albeit the most important. The formation of amino acids. Those form into proteins. Once you have these basic items, the best analogy I can think of is a magnet, it starts the process of gathering chemicals like a magnet attracts metals. Those chemicals it combines with combine, etc. 2. You are correct, which is why all of the oxygen, water, hydrogen, etc, all around you haven't turned into amino acids. It is a very unique occurrence with specific conditions.
..it just seems that mathmatically, the right combinations occuring at the right time under exactly the right circumstances receiving the exact amount of electricity required to even begin life would be, well, astronomical.
Absolutely, the probability is low, but not impossible. However, if we can figure these things out and reproduce it in the 1950s, less than 60 years after we were riding around on horses and going to the bathroom in outhouses, that perspective kind of makes you look at the 'astronomical' nature of the circumstances a little differently.
And the simpler chemicals formed into amino acids how?
And how did the proteins form?
Not to mention that as the larger and more complex, a molecule becomes, the more chemicals it takes.
So all those simpler chemicals bumping around form larger ones with much more space around them, thereby decreasing the chance of interaction between them.
Since the rate of reaction is partially dependent on temperature, concentration of reactants, and surface area of the reactants, it goes to reason that as the reaction progresses, it slows down.
So while there may have been some reason to expect the initial reactions of reactants to form some slightly more complex compounds, may have occurred, the probability of the reactions to yet more complex compounds decreases.
Not to mention that proteins are synthesized within the cell. Unless you can demonstrate that they have been know to actually form by themselves outside the cell.
Oh, come on. It was the 1950's not the 1500's