Chemical Evolution: An Approach From Radiation Chemistry

Negrón‐Mendoza, A.; Ramos-Bernal, S.; Colín-García, Marìa; Heredia, Alejandro

doi:10.21175/radj.2016.03.030

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Ionizing radiation is an important source of energy for prebiotic chemistry. Its ubiquity, energy introduction method, and the effectiveness of its reactions via free radicals make it very efficient for prebiotic chemistry, both in frozen ices (for extraterrestrial processes) and in water (for processes occurring on early Earth) (Negrón-Mendoza et al, 2016 ). For example, cosmic radiation at various wavelengths has been invoked as an extraterrestrial cause of enantiomeric excesses of organic molecules in carbonaceous chondrites (Bonner, 1991 ; Bailey, 2001 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

et al. 2018

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Critical to the origin of life are the ingredients of life, of course, but also the physical and chemical conditions in which prebiotic chemical reactions can take place. These factors place constraints on the types of Hadean environment in which life could have emerged. Many locations, ranging from hydrothermal vents and pumice rafts, through volcanic-hosted splash pools to continental springs and rivers, have been proposed for the emergence of life on Earth, each with respective advantages and certain disadvantages. However, there is another, hitherto unrecognized environment that, on the Hadean Earth (4.5–4.0 Ga), would have been more important than any other in terms of spatial and temporal scale: the sedimentary layer between oceanic crust and seawater. Using as an example sediments from the 3.5–3.33 Ga Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa, analogous at least on a local scale to those of the Hadean eon, we document constant permeation of the porous, carbonaceous, and reactive sedimentary layer by hydrothermal fluids emanating from the crust. This partially UV-protected, subaqueous sedimentary environment, characterized by physical and chemical gradients, represented a widespread system of miniature chemical reactors in which the production and complexification of prebiotic molecules could have led to the origin of life. Key Words: Origin of life—Hadean environment—Mineral surface reactions—Hydrothermal fluids—Archean volcanic sediments. Astrobiology 18, 259–293.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

et al. 2018

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“…Chemical evolution is a hypothetical process postulated to explain the formation of bio-organic molecules via the action of energy sources that could have caused chemical reactions in the primitive Earth and led to a period of synthesis and subsequent accumulation of organic material that preceded life's possible origin [1]. One hypothesis for the origin of life on Earth is a gradual transition from an environment of inorganic compounds yielding simple organic components (such as CH 4 , NH 3 , etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One main source of energy was ionizing radiation, which could have a critical role because of its high energy deposition and penetration power. This energy source interacts with chemical compounds to present changes that promoted an increase in organic material's complexity and diversity; it could also explain the decomposition patterns of some biomolecules [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavior of Poly-A onto Kaolin

Torres-Duque

Camargo-Raya

Negrón‐Mendoza

et al. 2020

J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A.

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A combination of geochemical variables is necessary to explain the origin of life on Earth. Thus, in this work the sorption of Poly-A on a clay mineral (kaolinite) was studied to get an insight about the sorption capacity at different times and pH values, as well as to confirm the capabilities of the clay to protect the sorbate from an external source of ionizing radiation. Poly-A presented a high percentage of sorption in the clay, especially in acidic environments, and this percentage sharply decrease in alkaline media. On the other hand, Poly-A’s recovery was higher in the system with clay, confirming its protection role.

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“…γ-Radiation resulted from the radioactive decay effect from certain radioisotopes ( 40 K, 232 Th, 235 U, 238 U and 244 Po); this radiation is classified as ionizing radiation because of its high energy, capable of ionizing (Allen, 1961). To simulate the effects of γ-radiation on prebiotic chemistry experiments, 40 K and 60 Co are used as sources (Negrón-Mendoza et al ., 2016 ). Since ionizing radiation and adenine existed in the prebiotic Earth, the interaction between them is an important issue for prebiotic chemistry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of γ-radiation on adenine dissolved in distilled water, saline solutions and artificial seawater resembling that of 4.0 billion years ago

Baú

Villafañe-Barajas

Negrón‐Mendoza

et al. 2019

International Journal of Astrobiology

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In this work, the effect of γ-radiation on the decomposition of adenine dissolved in distilled water, saline solutions and artificial seawater was studied. As the composition of the major cations and anions of artificial seawater probably better resembles the composition of seawater on the Earth 4.0 billion years ago, this seawater was named artificial seawater 4.0 Ga. The main finding in this work is that artificial seawater 4.0 Ga demonstrated a better protective effect of adenine against γ-radiation. In addition, artificial seawater 4.0 Ga showed that adenine had no changes in pH after radiation exposure and the minor radiation-chemical yield G. The radiolysis of adenine promoted modifications in Fourier-transform infrared spectra. The deconvolution of some bands demonstrated the formation of a new frequency at 1713 cm−1. High performance liquid chromatography-mass detected a product of decomposition with 151 atomic units. Using the geometry optimization and simulated vibrational spectra it was possible to show that the main species formed are hydroxyl and oxide modified adenine. The data point to the formation of hydroxyl-adenine and adenine Nx-oxide. These products have biological relevance and could be available for chemical evolution.

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Chemical Evolution: An Approach From Radiation Chemistry

Cited by 7 publications

References 57 publications

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

Behavior of Poly-A onto Kaolin

Effect of γ-radiation on adenine dissolved in distilled water, saline solutions and artificial seawater resembling that of 4.0 billion years ago

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