Evolution and evolutionary theory for physicians.
III. The origin of life

Česká verzia

Authors: F. Koukolík
Authors place of work: Primář: MUDr. František Koukolík, DrSc. ; Národní referenční laboratoř prionových chorob ; Fakultní Thomayerova nemocnice s poliklinikou, Praha ; Oddělení patologie a molekulární medicíny
Published in the journal: Prakt. Lék. 2010; 90(3): 135-140
Category: Editorial

Summary

Considerations about the origins of life should have some basis on the notion of what life is. There are three types of scientific definitions of life:

1. biological,

2. biophysical, and

3. attempts at a theory of general life systems.

Difficulties exist with all of them. A description of the characteristics of life is therefore perhaps better. An English acronym PICERAS

– program,

– improvisation,

– compartmentalization,

– energy,

– regeneration,

– adaptability,

– seclusion,

Koshland’s seven pillars of life, is a good working description. Abiogenesis, the emergence of life in nonliving environment is an open question. The rise of simple organic monomers, the building blocks of future life, is explained by a spectrum of theories from Oparin’s coacervate theory and the Miller-Urey experiment to speculations and experiments taking into account minerals, crystals, clays, zeolites and radioactive beaches to outer space. The journey from monomers to polymers to protocells unravels a number of theories which could be divided into two main groups: “gene first” and “metabolism first” and their hybrid forms, the Lipid world theory and Kauffman’s autocatalytic networks theory included.

Key words:
definition of the life, abiogenesis, monomers, polymers, protocells.

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