Studies in prebiotic synthesis

Mechanism of ε15 conversion studied with bacteriophage mutants

Bray, D., & Robbins, P. W. (1967) · Journal of Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/s0022-2836(67)80037-8 · Cited by 280

Cyanoacetylene in Prebiotic Synthesis

Sanchez, R. A., Ferris, J. P., & Orgel, L. E. (1966) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.154.3750.784 · Cited by 270

Prebiotic Synthesis of Polypeptides by Heterogeneous Polycondensation of Amino-acid Adenylates

Paecht‐Horowitz, M., BERGER, J., & Katchalsky, A. (1970) · Nature · doi:10.1038/228636a0 · Cited by 266

Studies in prebiotic synthesis

Ferris, J. P., Sanchez, R. A., & Orgel, L. E. (1968) · Journal of Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/0022-2836(68)90314-8 · Cited by 253

Studies in prebiotic synthesis

Sanchez, R. A., & Orgel, L. E. (1970) · Journal of Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/0022-2836(70)90320-7 · Cited by 250

Urea-Inorganic Phosphate Mixtures as Prebiotic Phosphorylating Agents

Lohrmann, R., & Orgel, L. E. (1971) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.171.3970.490 · Cited by 245

Untitled work

Kimball (1962) · doi:10.1016/0003-9861(62)90412-5 · Cited by 230

Synthesis of Complex Organic Compounds from Simple Precursors: Formation of Amino-Acids, Amino-Acid Polymers, Fatty Acids and Purines from Ammonium Cyanide

LOWE, C. U., REES, M. W., & MARKHAM, R. (1963) · Nature · doi:10.1038/199219a0 · Cited by 208

Synthesis of Adenosine Triphosphate Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions

Ponnamperuma, C., Sagan, C., & Mariner, R. (1963) · Nature · doi:10.1038/199222a0 · Cited by 172

An Unusual Photochemical Rearrangement in the Synthesis of Adenine from Hydrogen Cyanide1

Ferris, J. P., & Orgel, L. E. (1966) · Journal of the American Chemical Society · doi:10.1021/ja00957a050 · Cited by 160

attempted prebiotic synthesis of pseudouridine

Dworkin, J. P. (1997) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1023/a:1006579819734 · Cited by 5

IN THE BEGINNING

Ts’o, P. O. P. (1974) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-701901-7.50006-9 · Cited by 5

Chemical evolution and the origin of life

West, M. W., Koch, R. A., & Chang, S. (1978) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf00929715 · Cited by 5

Obtention de I-D-ribofuranosylade´nines

Rayner, B., Tapiéro, C., & Imbach, J. (1977) · Carbohydrate Research · doi:10.1016/s0008-6215(00)83298-x · Cited by 5

Abiotic synthesis and the properties of some protobiocopolymers

Simionescu, C. I., Dénes, F., & Negulescu, I. (1978) · Journal of Polymer Science Polymer Symposia · doi:10.1002/polc.5070640120 · Cited by 5

Generative AI Design and Exploration of Nucleoside AnalogsPreprint

Dablain, D. A., Siwo, G., & Chawla, N. V. (2021) · ChemRxiv · doi:10.26434/chemrxiv-2021-l5pr9 · Cited by 5

Prebiotic Evolution: The Self-Assembly of Primordial Biomolecules

Sillerud, L. O. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-56687-5_12 · Cited by 5

The non-canonical nucleotides and prebiotic evolution

Ruzov, A. S., & Ermakov, A. S. (2025) · Biosystems · doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2025.105411 · Cited by 4

Purine Chemistry in the Early RNA World at the Origins of Life: From RNA and Nucleobases Lesions to Current Key Metabolic Routes

Décout, J., & Maurel, M. (2025) · ChemBioChem · doi:10.1002/cbic.202500035 · Cited by 6

A theoretical insight into the formation mechanisms of C/N-ribonucleosides with pyrimidine and ribose

Wang, W., Huang, F., Sun, C., Liu, J., Sheng, X., & Chen, D. (2017) · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · doi:10.1039/c6cp08068e · Cited by 4

Pyrolisis of phosphorylated molecules and survivability limits during the atmospheric passage in earth-like planets

Marcano, V., Benítez, P., Campins, J., Matheus, P., Cedeño, C., Falcon, N. L., & Palacios‐Prü, E. (2004) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2003.12.006 · Cited by 3

Chemical evolution and the origin of life

West, M. W., Gill, E. D., Sherwood, B., & Kvenvolden, K. A. (1974) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf01207650 · Cited by 4

Spontaneous Cooperative Assembly of Replicative Catalytic RNA Systems

Vaidya, N. (2000) · doi:10.15760/etd.934 · Cited by 4

Mechanistic insight into the prebiotic syntheses of pyrimidine ribonucleotide and pyrimidine deoxynucleotide precursors

Xie, L., Huang, F., Sun, C., Liu, J., & Chen, D. (2016) · Computational and Theoretical Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.comptc.2016.01.006 · Cited by 3

First Steps Towards Molecular Evolution

Trapp, O. (2021) · Advances in astrobiology and biogeophysics · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-81039-9_7 · Cited by 3

Spectroscopic Characterization of 3-Aminoisoxazole, a Prebiotic Precursor of Ribonucleotides

Melli, A., Melosso, M., Lengsfeld, K. G., Bizzocchi, L., Rivilla, V. M., Dore, L., Barone, V., Grabow, J., & Puzzarini, C. (2022) · Molecules · doi:10.3390/molecules27103278 · Cited by 3

Prebiotic N-(2-Aminoethyl)-Glycine (AEG)-Assisted Synthesis of Proto-RNA?

Castanedo, L. A. M., & Matta, C. F. (2024) · Journal of Molecular Evolution · doi:10.1007/s00239-024-10185-w · Cited by 3

Proteins and Nucleic Acids in Prebiotic Evolution

Lacey, J. C., & Mullins, D. W. (1972) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-2019-7_15 · Cited by 3

Reactivity of nitrogen atoms in adenine and (Ade)2Cu complexes towards ribose and 2-furanmethanol: Formation of adenosine and kinetin

Nashalian, O., & Yaylayan, V. A. (2016) · Food Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.08.012 · Cited by 3

Thermodynamics and the Origin of Life

Morrison, P. (1973) · Cited by 3

Exploratory Studies to Investigate a Linked Prebiotic Origin of RNA and Coded Peptides. 3rd Communication

Ace, K., & Sutherland, J. D. (2004) · Chemistry & Biodiversity · doi:10.1002/cbdv.200490126 · Cited by 3

Primitive evolution: Early information transfer and catalysis by purines

Maurel, M. (2008) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/3-540-54752-5_197 · Cited by 3

Pre-biological evolution

Quispel, A. (1968) · Acta Biotheoretica · doi:10.1007/bf01556732 · Cited by 3

Experimental Models on the Prebiotic Formation of Biopolymer Building Blocks

Menor-Salván, C., & Ruiz‐Bermejo, M. (2025) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1177/15311074251365950 · Cited by 5

EIS UND DIE ENTSTEHUNG DES LEBENS (ICE AND THE ORIGIN OF LIFE)

Trinks, H., Schröder, W. P., & Biebricher, C. Κ. (2003) · Cited by 2

Role of Stacking Interactions in the Stability of Primitive Genetics: A Quantum Chemical View

Kaur, S., Grover, P., Wetmore, S. D., & Sharma, P. (2021) · Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling · doi:10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00276 · Cited by 3

Synthesizing Bioactive Molecules: Synergies between Drug Discovery Techniques and Astrobiology Research

Weber, J. M., & Tran, T. H. (2022) · ACS Earth and Space Chemistry · doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00326 · Cited by 2

Coenzyme und ihre Rolle in der Evolution des Lebens

Kirschning, A. (2020) · Angewandte Chemie · doi:10.1002/ange.201914786 · Cited by 3

Similarities and Differences between the Biosynthesis of Nucleotides and the Prebiotic Synthesis of Nucleotides

Zubay, G. (2000) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-012781910-5/50016-3 · Cited by 2

AN APPROACH TO THE SYNTHESIS OF 1, 9-DIRIBOSYL PURINE

Rayner, B., Tapiéro, C., & Imbach, J. (1978) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-326140-3.50020-6 · Cited by 2

A selective non-enzymatic synthesis of ribose simply from formaldehyde, metal salts and clays

Xu, H.-X., Zhao, Z.-R., & Wang, X. (2024) · Chemical Communications · doi:10.1039/d4cc03981e · Cited by 2

Deep Mantle–Atmosphere Coupling and Carbonaceous Bombardment: Options for Biomolecule Formation on an Oxidized Early Earth

Paschek, K., Henning, T. K., Molaverdikhani, K., Miyazaki, Y., Pearce, B. K. D., Pudritz, R. E., & Semenov, D. A. (2025) · The Astrophysical Journal · doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adc39b · Cited by 5

Atomic-level insights into nanoclay for prebiotic nucleoside phosphorylation

Qian, Y., Shi, B., Li, G., & Yang, H. (2025) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2025.06.025 · Cited by 1

Nucleoside Reactions Shed Light on the Chemical Processes Underlying Interstrand Cross‐Link Formation at Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Sites in Duplex DNA

Shim, G., Catalano, M., Gomina, A., Islam, T., & Gates, K. S. (2025) · Chemistry - A European Journal · doi:10.1002/chem.202501666 · Cited by 1

Prebiotic synthesis of nucleic acids

Bean, H. D. (2008) · Cited by 1

Origin of the Genetic Code and Abiotic Synthesis of Organic Compounds

Martins, Z. (2012) · Cellular origin and life in extreme habitats · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4966-5_16 · Cited by 1

Thermal Synthesis of Amino Acids under Assumed Prebiotic Conditions

MARSHALL, V. P., & Bennett, A. (1970) · Cardinal Scholar (Ball State University) · Cited by 1

Science and Faith in Dialogue

Eberlin, M. N., GONZÁLEZ, G. A., Keas, M. N., Luskin, C. R., Meyer, S. C., Miller, B., Rana, F. R., Believe, R. T., Ross, H. N., Believe, R. T., et al. (2022) · Reformed theology in Africa series · doi:10.4102/aosis.2022.bk334 · Cited by 2

The Definition of RNA Age Related to RNA Sequence Changes

Xu, Z., & Asakawa, S. (2024) · Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews - RNA · doi:10.1002/wrna.1876 · Cited by 2

Rise of β-furanosyl ribonucleosides as the extant RNA component facilitated by simple divalent transition-metal minerals

Chen, Q., Xu, H.-X., Zhao, B., Patehebieke, Y., Zhao, Z., & Wang, X. (2025) · Science China Chemistry · doi:10.1007/s11426-024-2445-6 · Cited by 1

Peptide Nucleic Acids as a Possible Primordial Genetic Polymer

Nelson, K. E., Lazcano, A., & Miller, S. L. (2001) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-010-1017-7_1 · Cited by 1

Formation of Nucleosides and Nucleotides in Chemical Evolution

Hashizume, H., Theng, B. K. G., van der Gaast, S., & Fujii, K. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-30363-1_2 · Cited by 1

Chemische Evolution antiviraler Wirkstoffe gegen Enterovirus D68 durch Proteintemplat‐gesteuerte Knoevenagelreaktionen

Tauber, C., Wamser, R., Arkona, C., Tügend, M., Aziz, U. B. A., Pach, S., Schulz, R., Jochmans, D., Wolber, G., Neyts, J. H., et al. (2021) · Angewandte Chemie · doi:10.1002/ange.202102074 · Cited by 1

50 Jahre DNA‐Doppelhelix und Miller‐Experiment

von Kiedrowski, G. (2003) · Nachrichten aus der Chemie · doi:10.1002/nadc.20030510606 · Cited by 1

Selection in the Abiotic Synthesis of RNA Using Metal Ion Catalyst and Template

Sawai, H. (2004) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-008044396-6/50026-5 · Cited by 1

Role of Transient and Stable Molecules in Chemical Evolution

Chadha, M. S. (1996) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-009-1712-5_8 · Cited by 1

Bibliography

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Origins of Life, Molecular Basis of

Ferris, J. P. (2006) · Wiley-VCH eBooks · doi:10.1002/3527600906.mcb.200400020

Fromneontstofiliontsand their progenies...

Maurel, M. (2015) · BIO Web of Conferences · doi:10.1051/bioconf/20150400014

Origins of Life: Emergence of the RNA World

Robertson, M. P. (2008) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470048672.wecb424

Oligonucleotides containing modified adenosines as primitive catalysts

Maurel, M. (1989) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf02388878

An approach to prebiotic synthesis of RNA containing α-glycosidic linkage, and properties of the resulting oligo α-RNA

Sawai, H., Ito, T., Kokaji, K., & Shinozuka, K. (1996) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf02459833

Die Suche nach einem genetischen Ursystem: jenseits RNA‐verwandter Strukturen

Sutherland, J. D. (2007) · Angewandte Chemie · doi:10.1002/ange.200604374

APPROACH TO PREBIOTIC SYNTHESIS OF RNA: NON-ENZYMATIC SYNTHESES OF RNA USING METAL ION OR CLAY MINERAL CATALYSTS

Sawai, H. (2004)

Towards a Prebiotically Plausible Mechanism for the Emergence of RNA, Ribozymes and the RNA World

Martin, L. L. (2015) · Summit (Simon Fraser University)

Catalytic Potential and Ligand Binding Properties of the Malachite Green RNA Aptamer

Costa, J. D. (2008) · UWSpace (University of Waterloo)

RNA-mediated chemistries: a case of replication and capping

Zaher, H. S. (2007) · Summit (Simon Fraser University)

Prebiotic Synthesis of Pyrimidine Nucleosides

Collins, J. P. (2005) · UPT. Syiah Kuala University Library (Syiah Kuala University)

Prebiotic assembly of nucleic acids

Chen, M. C.-Y. (2012) · SMARTech Repository (Georgia Institute of Technology)

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ORIGINS OF LIFE

Ninio, J. (2015)

Modellsynthesen von Sacchariden, Nucleobasen, Nucleosiden und Nucleotiden

Kricheldorf, H. R. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-57978-7_5

The Lipid-RNA World: A Membrane Bound Origin of RibosomePreprint

Mallik, S., & Kundu, S. (2012) · arXiv (Cornell University)

A Non-paradoxical Pathway for the Chemical Evolution Toward the Most Primitive RNA-Based Life-like System

Kawamura, K. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-30363-1_1

Untersuchungen zur präbiotischen Entstehung von Purin-Nukleosiden und Totalsynthese von natürlichen 7-Desaza-RNA-Modifikationen

Thoma, I. (2014) · Electronic Theses of LMU Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) · doi:10.5282/edoc.17986

„RNA-Welt“

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First Steps of Prebiotic Chemistry Catalyzed by Minerals and Metals

Huber, L., & Trapp, O. (2022) · Royal Society of Chemistry eBooks · doi:10.1039/9781839164798-00077

Rumours of war and evidence for peace between science and Christianity

Keas, M. N. (2022) · Reformed theology in Africa series · doi:10.4102/aosis.2022.bk334.10

Are present proposals on chemical evolutionary mechanisms accurately pointing towards the first life?

Tour, J. M. (2022) · Reformed theology in Africa series · doi:10.4102/aosis.2022.bk334.06

Biological Catalysis and Information Storage Have Relied on N-Glycosyl Derivatives of β-D-Ribofuranose since the Origins of Life

Woźniak, K., & Brzeziński, K. (2023) · Biomolecules · doi:10.3390/biom13050782

Bibliography

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Conversion of Cyclic Ribose to Acyclic Ribose under Prebiotic Conditions: Implications for Ribose Selection as the RNA Sugar

Hipparagi, L., Umesh, R., & Harohally, N. V. (2025) · ACS Earth and Space Chemistry · doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.5c00085

Model Syntheses of Saccharides, Nucleobases, Nucleosides, and Nucleotides

Kricheldorf, H. R. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-70752-4_5

Theoretical investigation of the reaction between pyrimidine nucleobases, D-ribose, and Phosphates in the prebiotic synthesis of RNA nucleosides and nucleotides

Araujo, E. S., da Silva, J. N., Gato, A. D. S., Cresencio, L. G., & de Oliveira, K. M. T. (2025) · Cuadernos de Educación y Desarrollo · doi:10.55905/cuadv17n7-105

Phosphorylation of prebiotic precursors on the early Earth

Shvetsova, A. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f29e48aezf058z4ca4za37czb7fc87d89620

The RNA World Hypothesis: A Critical Reassessment of Prebiotic Plausibility

Truman, R. J. (2026) · BioCosmos · doi:10.2478/biocosmos-2026-0003

Thermodynamic Constraints on Glycerol-Based Proto-Nucleotides: Phosphate Versus Arsenate in Early Backbone Evolution

Castanedo, L. A. M., & Matta, C. F. (2026) · Journal of Molecular Evolution · doi:10.1007/s00239-026-10336-1

Simultaneous formation of DNA and RNA nucleosides in shock-recovery experiments

Zhao, J., & Mimura, K. (2026) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2026.10.020

The “RNA World”

Rauchfuss, H., & Mitchell, T. N. (2008) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-78823-2_6

Origins of Life’s Ingredients

Dillon, L. S. (1978) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-2436-2_1

Formation of a β-Pyrimidine Nucleoside by a Free Pyrimidine Base and Ribose in a Plausible Prebiotic Reaction

Bean, H. D., Sheng, Y., Collins, J. P., Anet, F. A. L., Leszczyński, J., & Hud, N. V. (2007) · Journal of the American Chemical Society · doi:10.1021/ja072781a · Cited by 86

Nucleoside Synthesis under Potentially Prebiotic Conditions

REID, C., Orgel, L. E., & Ponnamperuma, C. (1967) · Nature · doi:10.1038/216936a0 · Cited by 27

Prebiotic Photochemical Coproduction of Purine Ribo- and Deoxyribonucleosides

Xu, J., Green, N. J., Russell, D. A., Liu, Z., & Sutherland, J. D. (2021) · Journal of the American Chemical Society · doi:10.1021/jacs.1c07403 · Cited by 38

Formation of nucleoside 5′-phosphoramidates under potentially prebiological conditions

Lohrmann, R. (1977) · Journal of Molecular Evolution · doi:10.1007/bf01751807 · Cited by 85

A New Synthesis of Purine Nucleosides. The Synthesis of Adenosine, Guanosine and 2,6-Diamino-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine1

Davoll, J., & Lowy, B. A. (1951) · Journal of the American Chemical Society · doi:10.1021/ja01148a071 · Cited by 164