Dr. Paul Nelson recently appeared on Creation Today with Eric Hovind to tackle one of the most foundational questions in science: the origin of the very first cell.

In my view, the Law of Biogenesis stands as one of the clearest lines of evidence for God’s creation. And it directly refutes naturalism and evolutionary origin-of-life models. If life cannot arise from nonlife, then there must be a creator, and that creator revealed himself in the Bible.

Interestingly, many evolutionists outright deny the Law of Biogenesis, which holds that life only comes from pre-existing life. This principle traces back to the work of Louis Pasteur, whose experiments dealt a decisive blow to spontaneous generation and established a foundational conclusion in biology.

To that end, Dr. Nelson lays out a compelling case that the Law of Biogenesis is a well-established and enduring scientific principle, often referred to as the Biogenetic Law. Notably, even prominent evolutionists such as Peter Medawar and Richard Lewontin have acknowledged its significance. Medawar described it as “arguably the most fundamental [principle] in biology,” while Lewontin admitted, “biologists have never been able to create the living from the nonliving, nor do they even know where to begin. The biogenetic law seems as unbreakable as ever.” These voices represent the scientific establishment, even if the implications are often resisted.

In the interview, Nelson also recounts his personal correspondence with Lewontin, which revealed something even more telling. Lewontin described his own position on the origin of life as “materialist.” Nelson highlights that Lewontin was candid enough to distinguish this as a philosophical commitment rather than a scientific conclusion. In other words, while he believed abiogenesis occurred, he acknowledged that the belief itself rests on materialist assumptions rather than demonstrated empirical science. He chose a philosophical belief, holding to materialism and naturalism.

If you’re interested in the deeper details, the full interview is well worth your time. Nelson explores the RNA world hypothesis, examines the structure and complexity of the simplest cells, discusses genetics, and walks through peer-reviewed research. It’s an informative discussion that goes straight to the heart of the origin-of-life debate.