TV News LIES

Sunday, Jul 13th

Last update07:26:19 AM GMT

You are here News Science Chemical basis for first life theorized

Chemical basis for first life theorized

molecules of lifeIt's a chicken-and-the-egg puzzle: How could the basic biochemicals like amino acids and nucleotides have come about when there were no catalysts, like proteins or ribosomes, around to create them? Now scientists propose that a third type of catalyst could have jumpstarted metabolism and life itself, deep in hydrothermal ocean vents, an article in The Biological Bulletin says.

The scientists' theory says molecular structures involving transition metal elements -- iron, copper, nickel, etc. -- and ligands -- small organic molecules -- could have catalyzed the synthesis of basic biochemicals, monomers, that acted as building blocks for more complex molecules, leading ultimately to the origin of life.

"There has been a big problem in the origin of life (theory) for the last 50 years in that you need large protein molecules to be catalysts to make monomers, but you need monomers to make the catalysts," Harold Morowitz of George Mason University in Virginia says.

However, he suggests, "You can start out with these small metal-ligand catalysts, and they'll build up the monomers that can be used to make" the large protein catalysts.

More...


Most Recent Related Stories...


Over 2K UFO sightings reported in first half of 2025

UFO sightingsThere have been more than 2,000 sightings of UFOs in the first half of 2025, according...

‘Could become a death spiral’: scientists discover what’s driving record die-offs of US honeybees

BeekeepBret Adee is one of the largest beekeepers in the US, with 2 billion bees across...

Trump administration reportedly planning to fire 2,145 Nasa employees

NASA layoffsThe Trump administration is reportedly planning to cut at least 2,145 high-ranking Nasa employees with specialized...

NASA spots a new comet flying in from a distant star system

NASA spots new cometAstronomers have spotted a new comet, moving on a trajectory that indicates that it whizzed into...
 
America's # 1 Enemy
Tee Shirt
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
TVNL Tee Shirt
 
TVNL TOTE BAG
Conserve our Planet
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
Get your 9/11 & Media
Deception Dollars
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
The Loaded Deck
The First & the Best!
The Media & Bush Admin Exposed!