{"title":"The Antarctic cryptoendolithic ecosystem: relevance to exobiology.","authors":"E I Friedmann, R Ocampo-Friedmann","doi":"10.1007/BF00933732","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryptoendolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic desert live inside porous sandstone rocks, protected by a thin rock crust. While the rock surface is abiotic, the microclimate inside the rock is comparatively mild. These organisms may have descended from early, pre-glaciation Antarctic life forms and thus may represent the last outpost of life in a gradually deteriorating environment. Assuming that life once arose on Mars, it is conceivable that, following the loss of water, the last of surviving organisms withdrew to similar insulated microenvironments. Because such microscopic pockets have little connection with the outside environment, their detection may be difficult. The chances that the Viking lander could sample cryptoendolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic desert would be infinitesimal.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"771-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF00933732","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17521670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Formation of specific amino acid sequences during carbodiimide-mediated condensation of amino acids in aqueous solution, and computer-simulated sequence generation.","authors":"J Hartmann, T Nawroth, K Dose","doi":"10.1007/BF00933660","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933660","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Carbodiimide-mediated peptide synthesis in aqueous solution has been studied with respect to self-ordering of amino acids. The copolymerisation of amino acids in the presence of glutamic acid or pyroglutamic acid leads to short pyroglutamyl peptides. Without pyroglutamic acid the formation of higher polymers is favoured. The interactions of the amino acids and the peptides, however, are very complex. Therefore, the experimental results are rather difficult to explain. Some of the experimental results, however, can be explained with the aid of computer simulation programs. Regarding only the tripeptide fraction the copolymerisation of pyroGlu, Ala and Leu, as well as the simulated copolymerisation lead to pyroGlu-Ala-Leu as the main reaction product. The amino acid composition of the insoluble peptides formed during the copolymerisation of Ser, Gly, Ala, Val, Phe, Leu and Ile corresponds in part to the computer-simulated copolymerisation data.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"213-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF00933660","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17604184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Formation of amino acids from CH4 -rich or CO2 -rich model atmosphere.","authors":"Y Hattori, M Kinjo, M Ishigami, K Nagano","doi":"10.1007/BF00933651","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933651","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"145-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF00933651","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17489359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G Horneck, H Bücker, K Dose, K D Martens, H D Mennigmann, G Reitz, H Requardt, P Weber
{"title":"Photobiology in space: an experiment on Spacelab I.","authors":"G Horneck, H Bücker, K Dose, K D Martens, H D Mennigmann, G Reitz, H Requardt, P Weber","doi":"10.1007/BF00933739","DOIUrl":"10.1007/BF00933739","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The joint European/US Spacelab Mission I, scheduled for October 1983 for a 9 day lasting Earth-orbiting flight, provides a laboratory system for various disciplines of science, including exobiology. On the pallet, in the experiment ES 029 \"Microorganisms and Biomolecules in Space Hard Environment\" 316 dry samples of Bacillus subtilis spores will be exposed to space vacuum and/or selected wavelenghs of solar UV radiation. After recovery action spectra of inactivation, mutation induction, reparability and photochemical damage in DNA and protein will be determined. The results will contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of the increased UV sensitivity of bacterial spores in vacuo and to a better assessment of the chance of survival of resistant life forms in space and of interplanetary transfer of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"825-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17489360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The radiolysis of aqueous ammonium cyanide: polymers of interest to chemical evolution studies.","authors":"V Niketic","doi":"10.1007/BF00933665","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933665","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Some of the polymers isolated from the mixture of products obtained upon irradiation of dilute oxygen-free solutions of NH4CN with gamma rays from a 60Co source were examined. Their molecular weights were estimated to be in the range 4000-20000 daltons; elements of their structure were inferred from chemical and spectroscopic studies; and their interactions with nucleic acid components were examined. Significance of these results for chemical evolution studies is summarized.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"251-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF00933665","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17519344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatial dissipative structures formed by spontaneous molecular aggregation at interfaces.","authors":"M Kagan, D Avnir","doi":"10.1007/BF00933679","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933679","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interfacial processes as well as formation of dissipative structures have been suggested to play a key role in early pre-biotic evolutionary stages, mainly due to the ability of such processes to induce aggregation and spatial structuring. In this context we would like to draw attention to our recent findings regarding a remarkably wide collection of interfacial chemical reactions which form dissipative spatial structures. Three types of interfacial processes were found to yield this phenomenon: photochemical oxidations at liquid/air and liquid/liquid interfaces; gas/solution reactions; and reactions at membrane surfaces. The phenomenon we describe is the first major example of a network of chemical reactions that develop into macroscopic far-from-equilibrium concentration patterns.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"365-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF00933679","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17520177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Origin of chirality: a structural theory.","authors":"M Shimizu","doi":"10.1007/BF00933683","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933683","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The molecular basis for the origin of chirality is presented: The complex of the anticodon bases and the discriminator base on a D type tRNA can recognize a L type amino acid. Exceptionally the D type tyrosine can be recognizable by the D type tRNA as shown by Calender and Berg. The advantage of such a stereochemical theory over the frozen accident theory is discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"397-404"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF00933683","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17520180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Project Cassini: a Saturn orbiter/Titan probe mission proposal.","authors":"D Gautier, W H Ip","doi":"10.1007/BF00933736","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933736","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Titan is the only moon in the solar system with a substantial atmosphere. The organic chemistry of its N2-CH4 atmosphere may resemble that of the earth's primitive atmosphere before life arose. The investigation of the synthesis of pre-biotic molecules in Titan's atmosphere and the atmospheric and surface environments of this planet-sized moon will be the focal point of the Cassini Project proposed to the European Space Agency for an international Saturn Orbiter/Titan Probe mission.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"801-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF00933736","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17521674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The evolution of the prebiotic atmosphere.","authors":"J F Kasting","doi":"10.1007/BF00933642","DOIUrl":"10.1007/BF00933642","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>One-dimensional radiative convective and photochemical models are used to estimate the vertical temperature structure and composition of the earth's prebiotic atmosphere. Greatly enhanced CO2 levels (100-1000 times present) are required to keep the mean surface temperature above freezing in the face of decreased solar luminosity during the earth's early history. Such high CO2 partial pressures would have affected the atmospheric oxidation state by facilitating the photochemical production of soluble species including H2O2 and H2CO. Oxidation of ferrous iron in the oceans by H2O2 dissolved in rainwater should have kept the atmospheric H2 mixing ratio above 2x10(-4) and the ground-level O2 mixing ratio below 10(-11), regardless of the magnitude of the rate of volcanic release of reduced gases.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1","pages":"75-82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"51156534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prebiotic synthesis of amino acids from formaldehyde and hydroxylamine in a modified sea medium.","authors":"M Sakurai, H Yanagawa","doi":"10.1007/BF00933655","DOIUrl":"10.1007/BF00933655","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the course of a study of a possible mechanism for chemical evolution in the primeval sea, we have found a novel reaction for peptide formation from glycine and urea in an aqueous solution. Glycine reacted with urea to give N-carbamylglycine, N-carbamylglycylglycine and glycylglycine. This reaction provides a new pathway for the prebiotic synthesis of peptides.</p>","PeriodicalId":76288,"journal":{"name":"Origins of life","volume":"14 1-4","pages":"171-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1984-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17519341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}