Whenever we talk about the origin of life, most people immediately think of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. However, in reality, Darwin’s theory is not about the origin of life—it only speculates how life evolved after it originated.
So, how did life originate? Modern science still does not have a proven scientific explanation for this question. In fact, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Paul Nurse writes in the introduction of his book “What is Life” that science does not even have a definite answer to what life actually is.
In this article, we will explore both modern scientific theories and Vedic knowledge on the origin of life.
The Scientific Perspective on the Origin of Life
The Britannica Encyclopedia roughly defines life as:
“Life is any matter that grows, responds, transforms energy, and reproduces.”
Based on this definition, matter can be classified into two categories:
- Living matter
- Non-living matter
We observe that all life forms on Earth originate from pre-existing life. However, modern scientists believe that the first life must have come from non-living matter. That is why, since the 19th century, all experiments related to the origin of life have focused on turning non-living chemicals into living matter.
The Miller-Urey Experiment: A Breakthrough in Abiogenesis
In 1952, University of Chicago graduate student Stanley Miller and Nobel laureate Harold Urey conducted a famous experiment. They hypothesized that when Earth first formed, its surface contained large amounts of ammonia, methane, and water vapor, and lightning frequently struck these elements.
To simulate these conditions in a laboratory, they:
- Injected ammonia, methane, and water vapor into a glass container.
- Exposed the mixture to continuous electrical lightning.
- After some time, they observed the formation of amino acids—organic chemicals that form proteins, which are essential for life.
Since all proteins in nature are composed of 22 fundamental amino acids, Miller and Urey’s experiment was seen as a breakthrough in understanding the origin of life.
The RNA World Hypothesis
The next challenge was understanding how proteins formed from amino acids.
In 2009, Cambridge University scientist John Sutherland discovered a chemical pathway for the formation of nucleotides—which are the building blocks of RNA.
With this discovery, science was able to produce two important components of living matter:
- Amino acids (which form proteins)
- Nucleotides (which form RNA)
However, creating amino acids and nucleotides in a lab is like making a nut and bolt while trying to build a satellite. There is still a huge gap between these molecules and a fully functional living cell.
Challenges in Creating Life in a Lab
Considering the intricate complexities of a living cell, scientists have now abandoned the idea of creating life from chemicals.
Instead, in the past two decades, they have focused on replicating biological processes within cells. However, such experiments are often misunderstood as “creating life.”
For example:
- In 2022, University of Tokyo researcher Ryo Mizuuchi artificially replicated existing RNA with slight variations. SYFY.com misleadingly titled their article: “Life Recreated in a Lab.”
- In 2023, Georgia Tech scientist William Ratcliff combined single-cell yeast into multicellular structures. An Indian YouTuber falsely claimed: “Scientists Finally Created Life in a Lab in Just 600 Days.”
Conclusion from Modern Science
Modern science defines life as living matter, and it believes that living matter emerged from non-living matter. However, it still cannot explain when, why, or how this transition happened.
The Vedic Perspective on the Origin of Life
Vedic science differs from modern science in how it defines life.
- Modern Science: Living matter is life.
- Vedic Science: Life is the energy that makes matter "living."
Life as an Eternal Energy
According to the Vedas, life is a separate energy that enters non-living matter and transforms it into living matter. The Law of Conservation of Energy, which both science and the Vedas agree on, states that:
“Like any other energy, life can neither be created nor destroyed. It exists eternally.”
This is confirmed in the Bhagavad Gita (2.20):
na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre
Translation:
"The soul is never born and never dies. It has always existed and will always exist. It is eternal and indestructible, even when the body is destroyed."
Thus, life energy enters matter, makes it living for some time, and then moves to another body when the previous one ceases to function.
How Did Life First Appear on Earth?
We have already discussed how the Earth was created in our previous article. But after Earth's formation, how did the first life appear?
The Vedic Explanation from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (Canto 2, Chapter 5, Verses 32-33) explains that:
- Bhagavān Mahā-Viṣṇu manifests various energies.
- These energies form different organs from matter.
- These organs combine to create different bodies.
- Finally, Mahā-Viṣṇu places living entities into these bodies, thus beginning life in the universe.
This aligns with modern scientific observations, which state that:
- Inorganic matter formed organic matter.
- Organic matter formed different components of living bodies.
- These components combined to form fully functional life forms.
However, unlike modern science, the Vedas clarify that this process is not random or by chance—it is facilitated by Mahā-Viṣṇu’s divine energy.
This concept is also mentioned in Bhagavad Gita (14.3):
mama yonir mahad brahma
tasmin garbhaṁ dadhāmy aham
sambhavaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
tato bhavati bhārata
Translation:
"I am the source of all living beings. I place them into different bodies, and thus, life begins."
Conclusion: Two Perspectives on the Origin of Life
Thus, both modern science and Vedic science provide two distinct perspectives on the origin of life:
- Modern Science: Life is just living matter, which evolved from non-living chemicals.
- Vedic Science: Life is an eternal energy that enters matter to make it living.
