By chance?

[Mister Agenda]

When you're talking about the 'simplest proteins arising by chance' you're talking about abiogenesis, not evolution. At any rate, no matter how the first protein formed, proteins are amino acid chains, amino acids naturally link into protein polymers, so simple proteins would have formed spontaneously in the conditions believed to have existed in the Hadean era. It's relatively simple organic chemistry (or at least relatively easy to synthesize), which existed before life did. Again, there were simple protein molecules before the first cell.

"there were simple protein molecules before the first cell."  Well, of course, some 7 billion people already knew that. Protein molecules, however, are still contingent realities.

Tell that to Yukon Jack. I never said or implied that proteins aren't contingent; YJ's complaint was that the simplest proteins are too complex to arise 'by chance', by which he means without conscious intervention by some designer.