H00102--00A, Front mat Genesis
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hydrothermal conditions, 149–151
332
INDEX
Murchison meteorite sample, 145–
meteorites from, 33-37, 45, 62, 67,
148
69–70, 71, 253–254, 257
RNA encapsulation, 158, 217, 218,
Noachian epoch, 71
238–239
sample return mission, 67, 75
seawater minerals and, 150
surface water, 71
self-replication, 144
Viking mission, 71, 259
self-organization, 143–145, 148,
Mass spectrometry, 7, 57–58, 68, 124
149–153, 156
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
ultracold vacuum experiments, 148–
59, 238, 279
149
Mathematica, 15
Löb, Walter, 90, 262
Maule, Jake, 73, 74, 75
Logos, 129–130, 272
McKay, David, 34, 72, 254
Lowell, James Russell, 245, 291
Melosh, Jay, 253–254
Lowell, Percival, 71
Membranes, 27, 112, 131, 135, 152, 191,
Luisi, Pier Luigi, 144, 239, 290
193. See also Lipids
Lyxose, 136
clay, 158, 276
encapsulation of metabolic
protolife, 193, 199–200, 213
M
iron sulfide bubble, 213
RNA encapsulation, 158, 217, 218,
Macquarie University, 55
238–239, 290
Macromolecules, 93, 105. See also Lipids
Merton, Alan, 268
abiotic formation, 284
Metabolic protolife, 27
assembly, 131, 133, 135, 153, 155–
amino acids and, 91, 199, 200, 202
156, 185, 189
autocatalytic networks, 197–198,
building blocks, 133, 153
202, 267
chiral selectivity and, 185
autotrophic, 205, 241, 281
Miller–Urey process and, 155–156
citric acid cycle, 64, 141, 192, 208,
minerals as protection, 156
209, 216, 219, 242
production steps, 156
continuity in, 192, 200, 202, 216, 280
synthesis of, 161, 263
credit for idea, 267
in water, 153, 156
cross-catalytic systems, 196–197
Magnesium, 151, 159, 162
cyclical processes, 64, 141, 192, 198,
Magnesium oxide crystal model system,
200
125–126, 271
encapsulation, 193, 199–200, 213,
Magnetite, 35, 36, 255
290–291
Magnetotactic bacteria, 35, 36
energy sources, 21, 64, 96, 198, 201–
Malate, 208
202
Mandelbrot set, 249
environment and, 198, 200, 201
Mars
evolution of, 198
atmosphere, 36
fossil biochemical pathways, 192
“canals,” 71
genetics linked to, 191–192, 198,
chemical analyzer, 72
200–201, 217, 218–219, 241,
detecting life on, 33-37, 67, 71–75,
290–291
254, 257, 259
heterotrophic, 112, 141, 202, 205
hydrothermal origin of, 3–4
INDEX
333
Iron–Sulfur World, 112–113, 192,
in meteorites, 35, 254
203, 241–242, 281
mining for, 101–102
laboratory experiments, 198
oil-from-below hypothesis, 103–105,
principles, 191, 198
265
Protenoid World, 199–201
reverse citric acid cycle, 208
pyruvate and, 3–4
in rocks, 100–101, 254
reverse citric acid cycle, 208–211
Savannah River core samples, 100,
self-assembly of macromolecules,
265
202, 219
and spontaneous generation theory,
self-replication, 193–198, 200, 207,
84–85
208, 218
testing hypotheses, 164–165
test of, 242
Microscope, 83, 260
Thioester World, 201–203
Microspheres, 200, 281
Meteorites
Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 97
Allan Hills, 33-37, 45, 62, 70, 72–73,
Miller, Charles, 98
254, 255
Miller, Stanley L., 81, 83, 86–90, 91, 92,
amino acids, 123–124, 271, 274, 277
98, 107, 109, 115, 130, 141, 147,
biomolecules from, 123, 270, 274
187, 199, 200, 221, 262, 263
carbonaceous chondrites, 69–70,
Miller–Urey experiment, 86–90, 91, 93,
123, 146, 255
109, 112, 131, 135, 146, 155–156,
contamination, 36–37, 72
217, 219, 223–224, 262, 273
Hadean eon, 38
“Millerites” and “Miller lites,” 266
lipid molecules in, 146–148, 152,
Minerals. See also Clay life; other specific
274
minerals
microbial transfer from Earth to
bonding to amino acids, 115–116,
space, 254
268
Murchison, 69–70, 123, 146–147,
carbonate, 34–35, 36, 54
150, 152, 271, 274
as catalysts, 118–119, 159–160, 171,
PAH ratios, 70, 255
207, 210
Methane, 87, 89, 92, 93, 103, 104, 262
as cell walls, 160
Methyl acrylic acid, 284
chiral surfaces, 171–186
2-Methylhopanoid, 67, 259
double-layer hydroxides, 159–160
Mica, 174
at hydrothermal vents, 111, 114,
Microarray Assay for Solar System
118–119, 206, 207
Exploration (MASSE), 75, 259
polymerization on, 157, 158, 199,
Microbes. See also Bacteria
207
antiquity of, 189
as protection for protolife, 156, 275
asteroid impacts and, 253–254
as scaffolding for life, 155, 156–158,
DNA swapping, 141
162
as energy source, 97–98, 99
in seawater, 150
extremophiles, 97–98, 99, 264–266,
selection of molecules, 173, 234
273
and self-organization, 150, 171
fossils, 35, 36, 37–45, 48–49, 65, 72,
surfaces as energy sources, 105, 111,
74–75, 255, 256, 257
112, 113
genome sequencing, 138
surfaces as genetic sequence, 162
magnetite crystals and, 255
Mojzsis, Stephen J., 59, 258
334
INDEX
Molecular evolution, 28
Mars exploration, 71–72, 75
autocatalytic systems, 197, 280
Office of Space Science, 73
biomolecules, 81, 113
Specialized Center of Research and
competition and, 29, 210, 236–237,
Training, 276
239, 249
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
complex emergent systems, 248
Administration, 151–152
laboratory experiments, 235–240
National Science Foundation, 181
molecular selection and, 234–237
Natural history, religious vs. scientific
phylogenetic analysis, 136–141, 264
in
terpretation, 28, 77–80, 129–
RNA, 235–236
130, 233–234
self-replication, 234–240
Natural selection, 160–161, 163, 164,
synthetic life, 238–240
233–240, 280
Molecular “fossils,” 3
Nealson, Kenneth, 121
Molecular selection
Needham, John, 84
chirality, 168, 169, 174–186
Neptunists, 28
by minerals, 173, 234
Neutron stars, 169, 278
and molecular evolution, 234–235
New England College, 48
in PAH World, 225, 228
Newton’s laws of motion, 12, 57
process, 168
Nickel, 159
in space, 169
Nickel sulfide, 111, 118, 207, 212, 284
Morgan, Stanley Hunt, 199
Niels Bohr Institute, 21
Morowitz, Harold, 1, 2–4, 8, 28, 107,
Nielsen, Peter, 222
192, 208, 209, 210, 268, 283
Nielsen-Marsh, Christine, 268
The Mummy (film), 15
Nitrogen
Murray, Andrew, 237
atmosphere, 93, 108, 110–111, 262
Myths, 129–130, 253, 272
chemistry at hydrothermal vents,
115
isotopes, 56
N
1-Nonene, 284
Nuclear reactors, microbial corrosion,
Naphthalene, 194
72
NASA Ames Research Center, 42, 121–
Nucleation, 170
122, 146, 148, 150, 223
Nucleic acids, 213. See also DNA; RNA
Astrobiology Science Conferences,
Nucleotides, 135, 153, 157, 158, 284
42, 188, 256, 275
National Academy of Sciences, 102
National Aeronautics and Space
O
Administration (NASA)
Allan Hills meteorite, 34–37
Occam’s razor, 257
Astrobiology Institute support for
Oceanologica Acta (journal), 99
research, 55, 108, 116, 157, 159,
Ohmoto, Hiroshi, 262
232, 266
Oil-from-below hypothesis, 103–105,
definition of life, 27
118
Exobiology program, 200
Oil-slick hypothesis, 157, 275–276
Lunar and Planetary Science
Olivine, 126, 174, 271
Conference, 72
Onstott, Tullis, 101
INDEX
335
Oparin, Alexander, 86, 260, 261, 269,
Petroleum, abiotic formation, 103–105,
282
118, 265
Oregon State University, 1, 96, 97–98,
Pflug, Hans-Dieter, 258
109
Phenanthrene, 69–71
Orgel, Leslie, 91–92, 158, 159, 171, 230,
Philosophy of science, 111
263, 272, 283, 284, 286
Phospholipid molecules, 143
Oró, John, 91
Photosynthesis, 39, 40, 42, 44, 55, 64,
Osteocalcin, 116, 268, 269
67, 96, 105, 112, 198, 210
Ourisson, Guy, 259
Phylogenetic analysis, 137–141, 264
Oxalic acid dihydrate, 5
Pilbara Craton, 66
Oxaloacetate, 3, 7, 8, 208, 209–210, 211,
Platts, Simon Nicholas (Nick), xi, 221,
212, 218, 242, 283, 284
222–232, 287–289
Oxford University, 73, 151
Plutonists, 28
Oxygen, 160
PNA. See Peptide nucleic acid
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs)
P
amphilic character, 148, 224
base spacing, 225, 228, 230–231
Packer, Bonnie, 40, 256
biomarker and abiomarker ratios,
PAH World
69–71
amino acid bases, 230–231
in deep space, 36, 223, 259
comments of, 225, 228–230
discotic organization, 224–227, 228,
energy source, 224
229, 230
experimental support, 225, 228, 229,
encapsulation, 289
230–232
functionalized, 224, 232, 289; see hypothesis, 223–225, 226–227
also PAH World
molecular selection, 225, 228
identification, 259
publication, 228–229, 230, 231
in meteorites, 34, 62, 255
self-organization, 224–227, 228, 229,
and photosynthesis, 232
242
sources, 288
thesis defense, 231–232
structures, 224, 288
PAHs. See Polycyclic aromatic
synthesis and purification, 231
hydrocarbons
ubiquitousness, 62, 224, 255
Paper chromatography, 89
UV radiation and, 224
Parity principle, 169, 278
Polymerization on the rocks, 156–158,
Pashley, Richard, 146–148
160
Pasteur, Louis, 84–85, 145–146, 169,
Popper, Karl, 111, 164, 266–267
170–171, 260
Portsmouth University, 73
Pasteurization, 85
Prebiotic chemistry
Pennsylvania State University, 262
atmospheric, 92–93
Peptide nucleic acid (PNA), 222, 232,
criticisms of, 114, 206
287
early speculation about, 85–86
Peptides
at hydrothermal vents, 115, 247–248
formation, 117, 124, 194, 222
Miller–Urey experiment, 86–90, 92,
self-replicating, 194
93
336
INDEX
oceanic, 93, 98–99
Reverse citric acid cycle, 208–212, 268,
spontaneous generation theory, 83–
283
84
Reynolds, Craig, 15
ultracold reactions, 91–92
Ribose, 64, 91, 135, 136, 221, 262, 285,
variations on Miller–Urey, 90–93
286. See also RNA
Pre-RNA World. See PAH World
Ribosomes, 217–218
Prigogine, Ilya, 12, 248
Ribozymes, 216–217, 237, 289–290
“Primordial soup” hypothesis, 2, 86,
RNA
112, 114, 130, 141–142, 202, 267.
amphiphilicity, 225
See also Miller–Urey experiment
antiquity of, 218
Prokaryotes, 138–139
bases, 225, 231, 255
Proline, 283
biochemical synthesis pathways, 64,
Propene, 284
91, 218–219
Proteins, 64, 75, 135, 153, 156, 194, 199,
as catalyst and information carrier,
216, 217
216, 217, 218, 237
Protenoid World, 199–201
clays as scaffolding for, 157–158
Protenoids, 199, 200, 281
encapsulation, 158, 217, 218, 238–
Proto-planetary nebulae, 270
239, 290
Pseudoscience, 111
molecular selection experiments,
Pulsars, 102
235–236, 237–238
Purdue University, 176
nucleotide synthesis, 219, 285–286
Pyranosyls, 287
precursor polymers, 221, 287; see
Pyrene, 71
also PAH World
Pyrite, 113, 174, 206, 207, 210, 282, 283,
protein assembly, 218
284
replicase, 237
Pyrrhotite, 35, 113, 115, 206
riboswitches, 218
Pyruvate, 3–8, 108, 207, 208, 211, 283
ribozymes, 216–217, 237, 285
self-replicating, 112, 217, 221, 236–
240
Q
specialized, 238
Spiegelman monsters, 235–236
Qβ virus, 235–236
structure, 135, 160, 171
Quartz, 171, 172
synthetic organisms, 240
variants, 221–222
R
RNA World hypothesis, 27, 112, 141,
216–218, 219, 221, 240, 285
Radioactive beta decay, 169
Rodhocetus, 78, 79
Rebek, Julius, Jr., 194, 279
Ross, David, 116, 117, 269
Reductionism, ix
Rossman, George, 126
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 157,
Royal Society of London, 102
222, 232, 239, 262, 276
Rubin, Vera, 251
Reproduction, 189, 191. See also Self-Runnegar, Bruce, 256, 258, 259, 269,
replication
273
Russell, Michael, 213, 284
INDEX
337
S
emergence, 234–235
flat life, 213–214
Sagan, Carl, 35, 233
lipids, 144
Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 91,
by metabolic protolife, 193–198,
158
200, 206, 207, 208, 212
Sand patterns, 12, 14, 15, 16–22, 249
peptides, 194, 215, 232
Santa Fe Institute, 15, 16, 196
polymers, 263
Savannah River nuclear processing
reverse citric acid cycle, 208
facility, 100, 265
RNA molecule, 112, 217, 221, 236–
Schidlowski, Manfred, 258
240
Schopf, J. William, xi, 37, 39–44, 56,
self-complementary molecules, 194–
256, 257
196, 279
Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
test-tube experiments, 190
59, 107, 159, 276
SETI Institute, 30
Scripps Research Institute, 27, 194
Shale fossils, 49
Seager, Sara, 187
Shock, Everett, 247–248, 282
Self-complementary molecules, 194–
Silicon, 160
196, 279
Siljan Ring, 104
Self-organization
Simpson, Sarah, 47
in aerosols, 151–153
Singer, Maxine, 268
of biomolecules, 81, 86, 117, 142,
Smith, John Maynard, 25, 280
170
Smith, Joseph V., 156, 160, 276
clays and, 157–158
Solar radiation, 81, 85, 105, 198, 224
crystal nucleation, 170
South African sandstones, 54
energy input, x
Space
experiments, 144
biomolecular diversity, 122–123,
lipid membranes, 143–145, 148,
269–270, 271
149–153, 156
chiral-selection process in, 169
macromolecules, 202, 219
membranes from, 145–147
metabolic networks, 283
molecular clouds, 121–123, 269–271
multimers, 202
Spallanzani, Lazzaro, 84
PAH World, 224–227, 228, 229, 242