re: Evolution vs intelligent design question.

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This is a very complicated subject to discuss with those without a science background is one of the problem.

Another is the fact that it is pretty much all guess work.

There is substantial evidence that preceding DNA, things were primarily RNA, both in terms of data storage and catalytic compound. Elements of this predecessor system is evident in several places.

Beyond that it is guesswork due to the fact that biochemistry and molecular genetics leave no fossils, and we are talking 4+ billion years old stuff.

We made some guesses that are pretty good about how it got started, but no evidence, and no connection between these starting points and RNA.

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Exactly.

In theory you start off with free floating nucleotides in the "primordial soup".

A few phosphodiester bonds linking a chain with hydrogen bonds forming up a correspondent chain, and voilà.

It's never been duplicated in the lab, but it does not seem impossible given expansive time and environment.