Primary Sources of Phosphorus and Phosphates in Chemical Evolution
Abstract
In this work we consider the role of phosphorus in chemical evolution from an interdisciplinary approach. First we briefly review the presence of this element in different cosmic sites, such as massive stellar cores, circumstellar and interstellar clouds, meteorites, lunar and Martian samples, interplanetary dust particles, cometary dust and planetary atmospheres. Thus we illustrate the fact that phosphorus seems to be, at the same time, scarce and ubiquitous in the solar system. Afterwards, by comparing the phosphorus content of our planet's main reservoirs with the amount of cometary and meteoritic matter captured by the primitive Earth, we conclude that comets may have provided a primary source for phosphorus compounds of prebiotic interest. Finally, we make a number of proposals aimed to gain observational supporting evidence to the above conclusion and other suggestions made in the article.
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Phosphorus was probably introduced into prebiotic synthesis at an early stage of prebiotic evolution.
“Phosphorus was probably introduced into prebiotic synthesis at an early stage of prebiotic evolution (Macia et al., 1997).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Macia et al., 1997
Cites
A Production of Amino Acids Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions
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“Biochemistry has shown us the marvelous functions of phosphates (energy transduction, replication, etc.) in living systems, functions that are difficult to be fulfilled by other inorganic compounds, such as arsenates, silicates, etc. (Westheimer, 1987).”
BackgroundThe mechanism of synthesis of amino acids by electric discharges
Miller, S. L. (1957) · Biochimica et Biophysica Acta · doi:10.1016/0006-3002(57)90366-9 · Cited by 380 · see citing works
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 · see citing works
Urea-Inorganic Phosphate Mixtures as Prebiotic Phosphorylating Agents
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Prebiotic activation processes
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Pasek, M. A., & Lauretta, D. S. (2005) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2005.5.515 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Pasek, M. A., Dworkin, J. P., & Lauretta, D. S. (2007) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2006.12.018 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
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“Phosphorus was probably introduced into prebiotic synthesis at an early stage of prebiotic evolution (Macia et al., 1997).”
Phosphorylation on the Early Earth
Pasek, M. A., Gull, M., & Herschy, B. (2017) · Chemical Geology · doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.11.008 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
- Authors
- Maciá*, E., Hernández, M. V., & Oró, J.
- Affiliations
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
- Venue
- Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere
- Published
- 1997-12
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 5-6
- Pages
- 459-480
- ISSN
- 0169-6149 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-0875
- OpenAlex
- W56536395
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.98
- 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 › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Keywords
- phosphorus, phosphate, chemical evolution, prebiotic chemistry, comets, meteorites, interstellar medium, interplanetary dust, cometary dust, planetary atmospheres, early Earth, origin of life
- MeSH terms
- Extraterrestrial Environment, Phosphates, Phosphorus, Solar System, Earth, Planet, Mars, Meteoroids, Evolution, Chemical, Evolution, Planetary, Cosmic Dust
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