Hypothesis: Origin of life in deep-reaching tectonic faults
Abstract
The worldwide discussion on the origin of life encounters difficulties when it comes to estimate the conditions of the early earth and to define plausible environments for the development of the first complex organic molecules. Until now, the role of the earth's crust has been more or less ignored. In our opinion, deep-reaching open, interconnected tectonic fault systems may provide possible reaction habitats ranging from nano- to centimetre and even larger dimensions for the formation of prebiotic molecules. In addition to the presence of all necessary raw materials including phosphate, as well as variable pressure and temperature conditions, we suggest that supercritical CO2 as a nonpolar solvent could have played an important role. A hypothetical model for the origin of life is proposed which will be used to design crucial experiments for the model's verification. Because all proposed processes could still occur in tectonic faults at the present time, it may be possible to detect and analyse the formation of prebiotic molecules in order to assess the validity of the proposed hypothesis.
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Tectonic fault zones consist of a huge network of interconnected cracks and cavities.
“Tectonic fault zones consist of a huge network of interconnected cracks and cavities [10,11].”
From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [10]
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- Authors
- Schreiber, U., Locker-Grütjen, O., & Mayer, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Schreiber, Ulrich
- Venue
- Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres
- Published
- 2012-02
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 47-54
- ISSN
- 0169-6149 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-0875
- OpenAlex
- W2073902412
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
- Keywords
- origin of life, faults, prebiotic chemistry, supercritical carbon dioxide, nonpolar solvents, phosphate, early Earth conditions, deep crust
- MeSH terms
- Origin of Life, Carbon Dioxide, Catalysis, Environment, Hot Temperature, Models, Chemical, Phosphates, Water, Earth, Planet, Geologic Sediments, Evolution, Chemical, Prebiotics
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