Environmental control programs the emergence of distinct functional ensembles from unconstrained chemical reactions.

ABSTRACT: Many approaches to the origin of life focus on how the molecules found in biology might be made in the absence of biological processes, from the simplest plausible starting materials. Another approach could be to view the emergence of the chemistry of biology as process whereby the environment effectively directs "primordial soups" toward structure, function, and genetic systems over time. This does not require the molecules found in biology today to be made initially, and leads to the hypothesis that environment can direct chemical soups toward order, and eventually living systems. Herein, we show how unconstrained condensation reactions can be steered by changes in the reaction environment, such as order of reactant addition, and addition of salts or minerals. Using omics techniques to s

SUBMITTER: Surman AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6431231 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature