Remembering a random choice kills alternatives (reply to comment on '21st century: what is life from the perspective of physics?')

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. (letters to the editors)