Hatrack River Forum: The Ninth Configuration

This is topic The Ninth Configuration in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

Has anyone seen this movie? It's very, very interesting. Recently out on DVD. Stacy Keach gives an unbelievable performance.

Anyway, the title comes from this quote by the character played by Keach:

quote:
In order for life to have appeared spontaneously on earth, there first had to be hundreds of millions of protein molecules of the ninth configuration. But given the size of the planet Earth, do you know how long it would have taken for just one of these protein molecules to appear entirely by chance? Roughly ten to the two hundred and forty-third power billions of years. And I find that far, far more fantastic than simply believing in God.

So, my question is - what is the ninth configuration? A google search didn't find me anything except references to the movie. What does the quote refer to? What is a protein molecule in the 9th configuration anyway?

I mean, it's a cool quote - but what does it mean?

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

Stanley Miller's electrical spark experiments, resulting in the creation of several amino acids, briefly discussed here .

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

I'm familiar with the Miller experiments. I still just want to know exactly what "9th configuration" refers to.

I didn't see anything about it in the link.

It's not important, guys I'm not trying to turn this into a debate thread - I've just recently talked about the movie again with someone who hadn't seen it and when the question came up "What is a protein molecule in the 9th configuration?" I had no clue - and I hate having no clue about things. [Wink]

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

Sound like a fictitious term. Like "the fifth element" or "the sixth day."

Stanley Miller and Sydney Fox would certainly be mentioned in any legitimate article about a "ninth configuration."

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

As far as I can tell, absolutely nothing. The phrase "the ninth configuration" seems to be pseudo-scientific gibberish.

The book the movie is based on may give more hints.

Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :

I'm pretty sure it is pseudo-science gobbledygook jargon. I think William Blatty was involved in that movie, the same guy behind The Exorcist. Effect over techical accuracy.

Edit: What skillery and fugu said. [Wink]

[ January 05, 2005, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: Sara Sasse ]

Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :

I see no science behind that estimate. Might be a fun movie, but that is definatly pulling numbers out of a very dark place that shouldn't be mentioned. [Wink]

Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :

"the sixth day" in the Governator movie is a biblical reference.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

Erik, it is a fun movie - it's got everything - including a guy trying to stage a production of Hamlet with all canine actors. [Wink]

There's a lot out there on probabilities of spontaneous formation of amino acids, and of the supposed first cell to arise out of the primordial soup - I've read a lot on it. I'd never heard, in my reading, of this ninth configuration, so I just wondered if I was missing anything. Apparently not.

Thanks!

Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :

I'll keep my eyes open for it, thanks.