In his comment [Usp. Fiz. Nauk 181 449 (2011) (Phys. Usp. 54 429 (2011))] on my paper [Usp. Fiz. Nauk 180 337 (2010) (Phys. Usp. 53 327 (2010))], A V Melkikh raises the question of the initial conditions for the appearance of life on our planet. He suggests that the origin of life is a purposeful process. I believe that life is due to a memorized random selection. It is what is taken as the initial postulate which determines the understanding of how life emerged and evolved on our planet.

PACS: 01.70.+w, 87.23.Kg (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0181.201104p.0451 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2011/4/o/ 000294814800014 2-s2.0-79960916155 2011PhyU...54..431I Citation: Ivanitskii G R "Remembering a random choice kills alternatives (reply to comment on "21st century: what is life from the perspective of physics?")" Phys. Usp. 54 431–433 (2011) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)Medline RefWorks RT Journal T1 Remembering a random choice kills alternatives (reply to comment on "21st century: what is life from the perspective of physics?") A1 Ivanitskii,G.R. PB Physics-Uspekhi PY 2011 FD 10 Apr, 2011 JF Physics-Uspekhi JO Phys. Usp. VO 54 IS 4 SP 431-433 DO 10.3367/UFNe.0181.201104p.0451 LK https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2011/4/o/ Received: 20th, August 2010, accepted: 15th, September 2010 Оригинал: Иваницкий Г Р «Запоминание случайного выбора уничтожает альтернативы (ответ на комментарий к статье ‘XXI век: что такое жизнь с точки зрения физики’)» УФН 181 451–454 (2011); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0181.201104p.0451