In the book that talk is based on (I think it might be The Blind Watchmaker?) he says (paraphrasing) that he's using the example to illustrate a process, and the exact start and end points don't really matter. If you prefer an earlier starting point, that's fine. Start with a single cell that can respond to light, or even earlier. The process still applies.
If you're going to make that objection, you might as well head straight up the chain and aim for the biggest example of all: how does the first self-replicating molecule appear?
If you're going to make that objection, you might as well head straight up the chain and aim for the biggest example of all: how does the first self-replicating molecule appear?