Theoretical origin of life: ocean vents (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, March 07, 2016, 15:26 (3183 days ago) @ David Turell

This article works with thermal vents and chimneys at the ocean floor. The part that is not consistent with real discovery is that the scientists add complex protein compounds to show that if they appeared they could polymerize. How did 'they' appear?- http://phys.org/news/2016-03-life-blocks-replicated-deep-sea.html-"The kind of nucleotides making up RNA are known as ribonucleotides, since they are made with the sugar ribose. The scientists found that unmodified ribonuclotides could form strings of two nucleotides. In addition, ribonucleotides "activated" with a compound known as imidazole—a molecule created during chemical reactions that synthesize nucleotides—could form RNA strings or polymers up to four ribonucleotides long.-"'In order to observe significant RNA polymerization on the time scale of laboratory experiments, it is generally necessary to activate the nucleotides," McGown said. "Imidazole is commonly used for nucleotide activation in these types of experiments."-"The scientists found that not only was the chemical composition of the chimneys important when it came to forming RNA, but the physical structure of the chimneys was key too. When the researchers mixed iron, sulfur and silicon solutions into their simulated oceans, instead of slowly injecting them into the seawater to form chimneys, the resulting blend could not trigger RNA formation.-"'The chimneys, and not just their constituents, are responsible for the polymerization," McGown said.-These experiments for the first time demonstrate that RNAs can form in alkaline hydrothermal chimneys, albeit synthetic ones.-"'Our goal from the start of our RNA polymerization research has been to place the RNA polymerization experiments as closely as possible in the context of the most likely early Earth environments," McGown said. "Most previous RNA polymerization research has focused on surface environments, and the exploration of deep-ocean hydrothermal vents could yield exciting new possibilities for the emergence of an RNA world."-"One concern about these findings is that the experiments were performed at room temperature. Hydrothermal vents are much hotter, and such temperatures could destroy RNA. (my bold)-Comment: Oh, the heat, the natural spoiler for the game. Too much money chasing too few ideas!