The Origin Of Life And Evolutionary Biochemistry

Historical Introduction: A.I. Oparin and the Origin of Life.- Chapters in Honor of "Proiskhozhdenie Zhizni" and A. I, Oparin.- Protein Structure and the Molecular Evolution of Biological Energy Conversion.- Condensation Reactions of Lysine in the Presence of Polyadenylic Acid.- Considerations of the Origin of Spontaneous Mutations.- Pre-Enzymic Emergence of Biochemical Metabolism.- The Methods of Science and the Origins of Life.- Phospholipid Monolayers-As a Prototype of Biological Membranes.- Peptides and Amino Acids in the Primordial Hydrosphere.- Amino Acids and Carbohydrates in Precambria.

The origin of life from inanimate matter has been the focus of much research for decades, both experimentally and philosophically. Luisi takes the reader through the consecutive stages from prebiotic chemistry to synthetic biology, uniquely combining both approaches. This book presents a systematic course discussing the successive stages of self-organisation, emergence, self-replication, autopoiesis, synthetic compartments and construction of cellular models, in order to demonstrate the spontaneous increase in complexity from inanimate matter to the first cellular life forms. A chapter is dedicated to each of these steps, using a number of synthetic and biological examples. With end-of-chapter review questions to aid reader comprehension, this book will appeal to graduate students and academics researching the origin of life and related areas such as evolutionary biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics and natural sciences.

The field of planetary biology and chemical evolution draws together experts in astronomy, paleobiology, biochemistry, and space science who work together to understand the evolution of living systems. This field has made exciting discoveries that shed light on how organic compounds came together to form self-replicating molecules-the origin of life. This volume updates that progress and offers recommendations on research programs-including an ambitious effort centered on Mars-to advance the field over the next 10 to 15 years. The book presents a wide range of data and research results on these and other issues: The biogenic elements and their interaction in the interstellar clouds and in solar nebulae. Early planetary environments and the conditions that lead to the origin of life. The evolution of cellular and multicellular life. The search for life outside the solar system. This volume will become required reading for anyone involved in the search for life's beginnings-including exobiologists, geoscientists, planetary scientists, and U.S. space and science policymakers.

The subject of this book is the physico-chemical theory of the origin of life. Although this theory is still in statu nascendi, it has been developed in recent years to the point where a coherent presentation is possible. The book is intended as an introductory text for students of physics, chemistry or biology. This interdisciplinary aim has necessitated a choice of material based on the lowest common denominator of physicists and biologists. In particular, the predominantly mathematical and biological sections have been presented at the most elementary l.evel possible. The less mathematically inclined reader can omit Sections (5.3)-(5.5), (5.7)-(5.10), (6.2), (6.3), (9.1)-(9.3), (12.1) and (13.3) without losing the overall view. For critical reading of the manuscript, for discussions and for many useful suggestions I wish to thank M. Eigen (Gottingen), w.e. Gardiner (Austin), D. Porschke (Gottingen), P. Schuster (Vienna), P.R. Wills (Auckland) and P. Woolley (Berlin). The translation of the original, German manuscript into English was kindly undertaken by Paul Woolley. During this and subsequent stages of revision he introduced a great many improvements in the text and the presentation of material. My particular thanks are due to him for his decisive contribution to this book. Last of all I wish to thank Ingeborg Lechten for typing the text in its various stages of evolution. The completion of this book is largely to be attributed to her patience and efficiency.

Origin of the Universe. -- Formation of the Elements. -- Beginnings of Chemistry. -- Element Abundances of the Planets. -- Geologic, Hydrologic, and Atmospheric Evolution of the Earth. -- Cells, Organelles, and Biomolecules. -- Metabolic Strategies and Pathway Design. -- Biochemical Catalysis. -- Storage, Replication, and Utilization of Biochemical Information. -- General Considerations Concerning the Origin of Life on the Earth. -- Biochemical Pathways Involving Carbohydrates. -- Prebiotic Pathways Involving Carbohydrates. -- Similarities Between the Biosynthesis of Nucleotides and the Prebiotic Synthesis of Nucleotides. -- RNA Metabolism and the Prebiotic Synthesis of RNA. Amino Acid Synthesis Now and Then. -- Chemistry of Translation. -- Early Developments in Polypeptide Synthesis. -- Lipid Metabolism and the Prebiotic Synthesis of Lipids. -- Properties of Membranes and Their Evolution. -- Possible Roles of Clays and Minerals in the Origin of Life. -- Evolution of Organisms. -- Evol ...