Oparin’s coacervates as an important milestone in chemical evolution

Vera M. Kolb

doi:10.1117/12.2180604

11 September 2015 Oparin’s coacervates as an important milestone in chemical evolution

Vera M. Kolb

Proceedings Volume 9606, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XVII; 960604 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2180604
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Although Oparin’s coacervate model for the origin of life by chemical evolution is almost 100 years old, it is still valid. However, the structure of his originally proposed coacervate is not considered prebiotic, based on some recent developments in prebiotic chemistry. We have remedied this deficiency of the Oparin’s model, by substituting his coacervate with a prebiotically feasible one. Oparin’s coacervates are aqueous structures, but have a boundary with the rest of the aqueous medium. They exhibit properties of self-replication, and provide a path to a primitive metabolism, via chemical competition and thus a primitive selection. Thus, coacervates are good models for proto-cells. We review here some salient points of Oparin’s model and address also some philosophical views on the beginning of natural selection in primitive chemical systems.

Citation Download Citation

Vera M. Kolb "Oparin’s coacervates as an important milestone in chemical evolution", Proc. SPIE 9606, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XVII, 960604 (11 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2180604

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