Organic Compound Synthesis on the Primitive Earth
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Regarding Belief in Primordial Soup to Explain the Origin of Life
Regarding Belief in Primordial Soup to explain the Origin of Life Belief in a primordial soup where life might spontaneously evolve is as wrong as believing the earth is flat, or, as Hoyle and Wickramasinghe (1981) suggest, as wrong as believing that the pre-Copernican idea that the earth is the center of the universe. They state, “It will be no bad thing to abandon this position” (p. 138). The belief in primordial soup goes something like this: “Somehow a brew of appropriate chemicals managed to get together, the organic soup, and somehow the chemicals managed to shuffle themselves into an early primitive life-form. From then on, all appeared to be plain-sailing, natural selection operating on randomly generated mutations would do the rest” (p. 131). Today we know that life does not arise spontaneously. In the 1860s, Louis Pasteur demonstrated that “the concept of spontaneous generation” was incorrect using “carefully designed experiments” (p. 36). Yet many biologists still “believe that life started on Earth through spontaneous processes” (p. 37). “The recourse to an organic soup to cross this biggest hurdle is evidently a blatant recourse to the spontaneous generation theory which Pasteur claimed to have destroyed. Nevertheless, most scientists, even to this day, have been satisfied to accept it” (p. 37). What scientific tests did Louis Pasteur conduct about spontaneous generation of life? How did he set up his experiment? What were his steps? What was his result? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ -
The Evolutionary Story Ahead of Biochemistry
Downloaded from http://cshperspectives.cshlp.org/ on September 24, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press The Organic Composition of Carbonaceous Meteorites: The Evolutionary Story Ahead of Biochemistry Sandra Pizzarello1 and Everett Shock1,2 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1604 2School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1404 Correspondence: [email protected] Carbon-containing meteorites provide a natural sample of the extraterrestrial organic chemistry that occurred in the solar system ahead of life’s origin on the Earth. Analyses of 40 years have shown the organic content of these meteorites to be materials as diverse as kerogen-like macromolecules and simpler soluble compounds such as amino acids and polyols. Many meteoritic molecules have identical counterpart in the biosphere and, in a primitive group of meteorites, represent the majority of their carbon. Most of the compounds in meteorites have isotopic compositions that date their formation to presolar environments and reveal a long and active cosmochemical evolution of the biogenic elements. Whether this evolution resumed on the Earth to foster biogenesis after exogenous deliveryof meteoritic and cometary materials is not known, yet, the selective abundance of biomolecule precur- sors evident in some cosmic environments and the unique L-asymmetry of some meteoritic amino acids are suggestive of their possible contribution to terrestrial molecular evolution. INTRODUCTION that fostered biogenesis. These conditions are entirely unknown because geological and Why Meteorites are Part of the Discourse biological processes of over four billion years about the Origin of Life have long eradicated any traces of early Earth’s he studies of meteorites have long been part chemistry. -
The Spontaneous Generation Controversy (340 BCE–1870 CE)
270 4. Abstraction and Unification ∗ ∗ ∗ “O`uen ˆetes-vous? Que faites-vous? Il faut travailler” (on his death-bed, to his devoted pupils, watching over him). The Spontaneous Generation Controversy (340 BCE–1870 CE) “Omne vivium ex Vivo.” (Latin proverb) Although the theory of spontaneous generation (abiogenesis) can be traced back at least to the Ionian school (600 B.C.), it was Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) who presented the most complete arguments for and the clearest statement of this theory. In his “On the Origin of Animals”, Aristotle states not only that animals originate from other similar animals, but also that living things do arise and always have arisen from lifeless matter. Aristotle’s theory of sponta- neous generation was adopted by the Romans and Neo-Platonic philosophers and, through them, by the early fathers of the Christian Church. With only minor modifications, these philosophers’ ideas on the origin of life, supported by the full force of Christian dogma, dominated the mind of mankind for more that 2000 years. According to this theory, a great variety of organisms could arise from lifeless matter. For example, worms, fireflies, and other insects arose from morning dew or from decaying slime and manure, and earthworms originated from soil, rainwater, and humus. Even higher forms of life could originate spontaneously according to Aristotle. Eels and other kinds of fish came from the wet ooze, sand, slime, and rotting seaweed; frogs and salamanders came from slime. 1846 CE 271 Rather than examining the claims of spontaneous generation more closely, Aristotle’s followers concerned themselves with the production of even more remarkable recipes. -
Aristotle on Chance and Spontaneous Generation. a Discussion Note
FILOZOFIA ___________________________________________________________________________Roč. 68, 2013, č. 2 ARISTOTLE ON CHANCE AND SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. A DISCUSSION NOTE CHRISTOS PANAYIDES, University of Nicosia, Cyprus PANAYIDES, CH.: Aristotle on Chance and Spontaneous Generation. A Discussion Note FILOZOFIA 68, 2013, No 2, p. 114 In Physics II. 4-6 Aristotle deals with the technical concept of chance (τ ατ µατον). Here a number of specific characteristics are ascribed to the chance happenings. At the same time, in his biological works Aristotle presents his notorious theory of ‘spontaneous generation’ (ατ µατος γ9νεσις). Most scholars assume that this theory ought to be in line with the doctrine of chance, as this is presented in his Physics. It is clear, however, that spontaneous generation lacks (at least some of) the features a chance happening ought to have. For instance, spontaneity is not unusual. My pur- pose here is to address the exegetical problem at hand, in particular to sketch out an argument according to which the discrepancy between Aristotle’s doctrine of chance and his theory of spontaneous generation is merely an apparent one. Keywords: Aristotle – Chance (being) for the sake of something – Generation of ani- mals – Incidental causation J. Lennox – Luck – Per se causation – Physics I In Physics (Phys.) II. 4-6 Aristotle deals with the technical concepts of ‘luck’ (Dτχη) and ‘chance’ (τ ατ µατον). In the opening paragraph of Phys. II. 4 (195b31- 36) he states that the ensuing discussion, in the next couple of chapters, is intended to do three things: (a) determine what luck and chance are, (b) resolve how, if at all, these two fit into the scheme of the four causes and (c) specify how luck and chance are related to 1 each other. -
Volatile Organic Compounds, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Elements in the Air of Ten Urban Homes
AIVC #13,657 J11<loor Air 2001; 11: 49-64 Copyrigfil © Mi111ksg11nl'd 2001 /itlp;//jo11mnls.1111111ksgnard.dlr/i11doornir L'IDOOR AIR Pd1lied in De1111111rk. All rights reserved ISSN 0905-6947 Volatile Organic Compounds, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Elements in the Air of Ten Urban Homes MICHAEL R. VAN WINKLE1 AND PETER A. SCHEFF2* istics or occupant activities. The data indicate that several pre Abstract Ten homes were monitored at regular intervals from dietor variables, including mothball storage, air freshener use, June 1994 through April 1995 as part of a Public Health Assess and cooking activities, are reasonable predictors for emission ment in Southeast Chicago for exposure to volatile organic com rates of specific pollutants in the homes. pounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and elements. Simultaneous 24-h indoor and outdoor samples were Received for review 24 March 1999. Accepted for publication 11 March 2000. collected. VOCs were and analyzed using USEPA Method T0-14 © Indoor Air (2001) with Selected Ion Monitoring Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). PAHs were analyzed using USEPA Method T0-13 with GC/MS. Elements were collected on quartz fiber filters and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICP) spectroscopy or Graph ite Furnace Atomic Absorption (GFA A). Continuous measure Introduction ments of C02 and temperature were recorded for each indoor Exposure to indoor airborne pollutants is a function of sample. Twenty-four h total C02 emissions were determined from occupancy and estimated gas stove usage and were moder many variables, including pollutant infiltration, exfil 2 ately correlated (R =0.19) with 24 h average indoor C02 concen tration, deposition, resuspension, filtration, and gener trations. -
Phosphorus and Sulfur Cosmochemistry: Implications for the Origins of Life
Phosphorus and Sulfur Cosmochemistry: Implications for the Origins of Life Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Pasek, Matthew Adam Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 07/10/2021 06:16:37 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194288 PHOSPHORUS AND SULFUR COSMOCHEMISTRY: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ORIGINS OF LIFE by Matthew Adam Pasek ________________________ A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF PLANETARY SCIENCE In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2 0 0 6 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Matthew Adam Pasek entitled Phosphorus and Sulfur Cosmochemistry: Implications for the Origins of Life and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy _______________________________________________________________________ Date: 04/11/2006 Dante Lauretta _______________________________________________________________________ Date: 04/11/2006 Timothy Swindle _______________________________________________________________________ Date: 04/11/2006 -
A Production of Amino Acids Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions
A Production of Amino Acids Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions Stanley L. Miller Methods and Logic - 2/24/15 Outline for today’s class • The origin of life • Stanley L. Miller and Harold Urey • Background • Landmark Paper • Landmark Experiment • Subsequent Studies There are many theories regarding the origin of life • Theory of spontaneous generation: living organisms can arise suddenly and spontaneously from any kind of non-living matter • Aristotle, ancient Egyptians • Popular until 1600s when it was disproved due to various experiments • Fransisco Redi (1665) http://www.tutorvista.com/content/b iology/biology-iii/origin-life/origin- • Louis Pasteur (1864) life-theories.php# http://bekarice.com/college-spontaneous-generation/ There are many theories regarding the origin of life • Cozmozoic theory (parpermia): life reached Earth from other heavenly bodies such as meteorites, in the form of highly resistance spores of some organisms • Richter (1865) • Arrhenius (1908) • Overall lack of evidence Wikipedia • Living matter cannot survive the extreme cold, dryness and ultra-violet radiation from the sun required to be crossed for reaching the earth. There are many theories regarding the origin of life • Theory of chemical evolution: Origin of life on earth is the result of a slow and gradual process of chemical evolution that probably occurred about 4 billion years ago • Oparin (1923) • Haldone (1928) • Early Earth atmosphere (mixture of gases and solar radiation/lightning) • Miller-Urey Experiment Stanley L. Miller - Biography Born: 1930 in Oakland, CA Died: 2007 in San Diego, CA High school nickname: “a chem whiz” BS: UC Berkley - 1951 PhD: University of Chicago – 1954 (advisor: Harold Urey) California Institute of Technology Columbia University UC San Diego (1960-2007) National Academy of Sciences Landmark Paper: (1953) Production of amino acids under possible primitive earth conditions". -
PATENT OFFICE 2,632,026 OXDATION OFAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS Joshua C
Patented Mar. 17, 1953 2,632,026 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,632,026 OXDATION OFAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS Joshua C. Conner, Jr., Wilmington, Dei, assignor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Dei, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application February 18, 1950, Serial No. 145,091 9 Cairms. (C. 260-610) 1. 2 This invention relates to a process for oxidizing of cumene at a temperature in excess of 20° C. an alkyl-substituted aromatic organic compound while simultaneously passing a stream of an having the structural formula, Oxygen-containing gas containing gaseous am Rt H monia, in catalytic amounts through the reac N / tion mixture. The reaction is continued until standard analytical data, such as refractive in R / Air dex, indicate the conversion of from about 10% to about 70% of the original cumene to oxygen in which R1 and R2 represent alkyl groups and ated products. The reaction mixture may then Ar represents either an aryl group or an alkaryl 0. be treated in accordance with known techniques group. More particularly, the invention relates to obtain a product containing preponderant to a process for the oxidation of compounds Such amounts of a,c-dimethylbenzyl hydroperoxide. as cumene in the liquid phase by naeans of no Having thus described the invention, the foll lecular. Oxygen. lowing examples are specific embodiments there It is known that cunene, for example, may be 5 of. All parts are parts by weight unless otherwise oxidized in the liquid phase by means of molec indicated. ular oxygen, but none of the processes hereto EXAMPLE 1. fore disclosed for the oxidation of cumene have resulted in substantial yields of a,c-dimethyl A glass reaction vessel equipped with a reflux benzyl hydroperoxide. -
Experimental Analysis and Modeling Aspects of the Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil Slurry Bioreactors Douglas Pino Herrera
Experimental analysis and modeling aspects of the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil slurry bioreactors Douglas Pino Herrera To cite this version: Douglas Pino Herrera. Experimental analysis and modeling aspects of the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil slurry bioreactors. Earth Sciences. Université Paris-Est, 2018. English. NNT : 2018PESC2190. tel-03012451 HAL Id: tel-03012451 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-03012451 Submitted on 18 Nov 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Experimental analysis and modeling aspects of the removal of PAHs in soil slurry bioreactor Douglas Oswaldo Pino Herrera Thesis committee Thesis Promotor Reviewers Prof. Mehmet A. Oturan Prof. Marie-Odile Simonnot Université Paris-Est Université de Lorraine Marne-la-Vallée, France Nancy, France Thesis Co-Promotors Prof. Francesca Beolchini Dr. Hab. Eric D. van Hullebusch, Università Politecnica delle Marche Université Paris-Est Ancona, Italy Marne-la-Vallée, France Examiners Dr. Giovanni Esposito, Prof. Piet Lens University of Cassino and Southern Lazio UNESCO-IHE Delft Cassino, Italy Delft, The Netherlands Thesis Supervisor Dr. Yannick Fayolle Dr. Yoan Pechaud Irstea Université Paris-Est Antony, France Marne-la-Vallée, France Dr. -
INVESTIGATION of POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (Pahs) on DRY FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD) BY-PRODUCTS
INVESTIGATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs) ON DRY FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD) BY-PRODUCTS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Ping Sun, M.S. ***** The Ohio State University 2004 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Linda Weavers, Adviser Professor Harold Walker Professor Patrick Hatcher Adviser Professor Yu-Ping Chin Civil Engineering Graduate Program ABSTRACT The primary goal of this research was to examine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on dry FGD by-products to determine environmentally safe reuse options of this material. Due to the lack of information on the analytical procedures for measuring PAHs on FGD by-products, our initial work focused on analytical method development. Comparison of the traditional Soxhlet extraction, automatic Soxhlet extraction, and ultrasonic extraction was conducted to optimize the extraction of PAHs from lime spray dryer (LSD) ash (a common dry FGD by-product). Due to the short extraction time, ultrasonic extraction was further optimized by testing different organic solvents. Ultrasonic extraction with toluene as the solvent turned out to be a fast and efficient method to extract PAHs from LSD ash. The possible reactions of PAHs under standard ultrasonic extraction conditions were then studied to address concern over the possible degradation of PAHs by ultrasound. By sonicating model PAHs including naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene in organic solutions, extraction parameters including solvent type, solute concentration, and sonication time on reactions of PAHs were examined. A hexane: acetone (1:1 V/V) ii mixture resulted in less PAH degradation than a dichloromethane (DCM): acetone (1:1 V/V) mixture. -
Spontaneous Generation & Origin of Life Concepts from Antiquity to The
SIMB News News magazine of the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology April/May/June 2019 V.69 N.2 • www.simbhq.org Spontaneous Generation & Origin of Life Concepts from Antiquity to the Present :ŽƵƌŶĂůŽĨ/ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂůDŝĐƌŽďŝŽůŽŐLJΘŝŽƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ Impact Factor 3.103 The Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology is an international journal which publishes papers in metabolic engineering & synthetic biology; biocatalysis; fermentation & cell culture; natural products discovery & biosynthesis; bioenergy/biofuels/biochemicals; environmental microbiology; biotechnology methods; applied genomics & systems biotechnology; and food biotechnology & probiotics Editor-in-Chief Ramon Gonzalez, University of South Florida, Tampa FL, USA Editors Special Issue ^LJŶƚŚĞƚŝĐŝŽůŽŐLJ; July 2018 S. Bagley, Michigan Tech, Houghton, MI, USA R. H. Baltz, CognoGen Biotech. Consult., Sarasota, FL, USA Impact Factor 3.500 T. W. Jeffries, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA 3.000 T. D. Leathers, USDA ARS, Peoria, IL, USA 2.500 M. J. López López, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain C. D. Maranas, Pennsylvania State Univ., Univ. Park, PA, USA 2.000 2.505 2.439 2.745 2.810 3.103 S. Park, UNIST, Ulsan, Korea 1.500 J. L. Revuelta, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain 1.000 B. Shen, Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA 500 D. K. Solaiman, USDA ARS, Wyndmoor, PA, USA Y. Tang, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA E. J. Vandamme, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium H. Zhao, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA 10 Most Cited Articles Published in 2016 (Data from Web of Science: October 15, 2018) Senior Author(s) Title Citations L. Katz, R. Baltz Natural product discovery: past, present, and future 103 Genetic manipulation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis for improved production in Streptomyces and R. -
History of Microbiology: Spontaneous Generation Theory
HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION THEORY Microbiology often has been defined as the study of organisms and agents too small to be seen clearly by the unaided eye—that is, the study of microorganisms. Because objects less than about one millimeter in diameter cannot be seen clearly and must be examined with a microscope, microbiology is concerned primarily with organisms and agents this small and smaller. Microbial World Microorganisms are everywhere. Almost every natural surface is colonized by microbes (including our skin). Some microorganisms can live quite happily in boiling hot springs, whereas others form complex microbial communities in frozen sea ice. Most microorganisms are harmless to humans. You swallow millions of microbes every day with no ill effects. In fact, we are dependent on microbes to help us digest our food and to protect our bodies from pathogens. Microbes also keep the biosphere running by carrying out essential functions such as decomposition of dead animals and plants. Microbes are the dominant form of life on planet Earth. More than half the biomass on Earth consists of microorganisms, whereas animals constitute only 15% of the mass of living organisms on Earth. This Microbiology course deals with • How and where they live • Their structure • How they derive food and energy • Functions of soil micro flora • Role in nutrient transformation • Relation with plant • Importance in Industries The microorganisms can be divided into two distinct groups based on the nucleus structure: Prokaryotes – The organism lacking true nucleus (membrane enclosed chromosome and nucleolus) and other organelles like mitochondria, golgi body, entoplasmic reticulum etc. are referred as Prokaryotes.