What is the difference between inference and conjecture

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Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Philosophy What is the best definition of conjecture? Ben Davis January 11, What is the best definition of conjecture? What is the root word of conjecture?

Furthermore, if amphiphilic compounds are present they can organize and concentrate reactants within a two dimensional plane with the result that polymerization is enhanced [ 24 — 25 ]. The hydrothermal field hypothesis has been tested in laboratory simulations. For instance, peptide bonds have been produced [ 26 — 27 ] and cycles of drying and rehydration have been shown to drive polymerization of mononucleotides [ 22 , 28 — 29 ].

Because the resulting polymers can be encapsulated in lipid vesicles, it has been proposed that the resulting protocells are candidates for combinatorial selection and the first steps of evolution [ 30 ]. From the above discussion, alternative conjectures have been published and are available for critical analysis and commentary.

How can we turn the two conjectures into John Platt's alternative hypotheses? The answer is simple. We follow Platt's advice to devise critical experiments that will add weight of evidence to either or both of the alternative conjectures which then become testable hypotheses. Here is a proposed list of conditions that seem to be essential prerequisites if cellular life is to originate in one of the two alternative conditions:.

There must be a source of organic compounds relevant to biological processes, such as amino acids, nucleobases, simple sugars and phosphate. The organic solutes are likely to be present as very dilute solutions, so there should be a process by which they can be sufficiently concentrated to undergo chemical reactions relevant to cellular life.

Energy sources must be present in the environment to drive a primitive metabolism and polymerization. Products of reactions should accumulate within the site rather than dispersing into the bulk phase environment. Biologically relevant polymers are synthesized with chain lengths sufficient to act as catalysts or incorporate genetic information. If amphiphilic compounds are present in the mixture, the conditions will allow them to assemble into membranous compartments.

A plausible physical mechanism can produce encapsulated polymers in the form of protocells and subject them to combinatorial selection. These conditions can also be considered to be predictions, because each condition in the above list can be tested by observation, by theoretical analysis or in laboratory simulations. If any one of the predictions fails experimentally or is shown to be impossible, for instance by being inconsistent with thermodynamic principles, that alternative can be considered to be falsified.

As evidence accumulates, we will be able to judge the relative plausibility and explanatory power of the competing ideas. Continued testing of the alternative hypotheses is essential, because neither has yet reached the level of consensus. In both cases, laboratory simulations will ideally be extended to a second important step, which is to visit the alternative sites and demonstrate that what happens in the laboratory can also occur in the actual conditions of hydrothermal vents or fields.

This article is part of the Thematic Series "From prebiotic chemistry to molecular evolution". National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Beilstein J Org Chem. Published online Mar David Deamer 1. Leroy Cronin, Guest Editor. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Corresponding author. David Deamer: ude. Received Jan 1; Accepted Mar This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract In origins of life research, it is important to understand the difference between conjecture and hypothesis.