Which origin of life theory currently holds most sway in academic circles and why?

Two recent books on the origin of life by eminent and longtime researchers in the field have highlighted the challenges in stark and stunning detail. Christian de Duve’s Singularities: Landmarks on the Pathways of Life gives us the biochemical view, and Hubert Yockey’s Information Theory, Evolution, and the Origin of Life gives us the details in terms of Shannon and algorithmic information theory. Both are written for audiences educated to undergraduate-level (in biochemistry and mathematics respectively), so they provide the precision of thought and expression that critics need. Both reject creation/intelligent design quite fiercely, and espouse evolution without question. Hostile witnesses that speak so clearly and forthrightly on this subject are exactly what creationists need to sharpen their own minds and arguments. I highly recommend them both.

This is a very good question! This is why I don't believe that life could possibly evolve from one cell. I believe that microevolution happens, but I find it impossible that organisms as complex as humans or any mammals could evolve from one cell. The vestigial structures that supposedly indicate shared evolution could just be similar features in different creatures. Age dating for millions of years assumes that the rate of change is fairly constant in the testing methods, and the world does not change in a linear pattern. I'm just as curious how this is 'explained'