Scientists continue to work on abiogenesis

[Runlikethewind]

Scientists propose pyrophosphite as a molecule capable of taking of acting in place of the ATP energy source in the early emergence of life.

New Theory for Life's First Energy Source - Yahoo! News

 

[tumbleweed41]

Interesting

 

[Storm]

OK, I'm probably just revealing my ignorance, but since when was the sun an inadequate source of energy?

 

[Runlikethewind]

OK, I'm probably just revealing my ignorance, but since when was the sun an inadequate source of energy?

There looking at chemical energy within the cells of living organisms. Most (if not all) living organisms on earth use the ATP enzyme like a rechargeable battery to run cell operations (as I understand it, I'm no biochemist). The problem for abiogenesis is to find a method by which cells could perform this function before the emergence of ATP. As the article puts it "You need enzymes to make ATP, and you need ATP to make enzymes" so if life emerged chemically there must have been some means of transporting energy in these early cells that did not rely on ATP.

 

[Storm]

There looking at chemical energy within the cells of living organisms. Most (if not all) living organisms on earth use the ATP enzyme like a rechargeable battery to run cell operations (as I understand it, I'm no biochemist). The problem for abiogenesis is to find a method by which cells could perform this function before the emergence of ATP. As the article puts it "You need enzymes to make ATP, and you need ATP to make enzymes" so if life emerged chemically there must have been some means of transporting energy in these early cells that did not rely on ATP.

Ah, thank you.

 

[Buttercup]

I read about this yesterday. Very cool. Can't wait to learn more.