Abstract
We consider the problem of structure and functions of the first forms of living matter and present a hypothe-sis that they were formed through a physico-chemical process known as dendritic crystallization. According to this hypothesis the branching, dendritic structures helped build living systems by lending them functions so that organic chemical evolution is just one natural consequence of the evolution of matter in the universe. We conclude that a self-replicating biological system with adaptation emerged from simple molecules using completely abiotic mechanism of formation, which acted simultaneously or intermittently at different places on the early Earth and created similar structures everywhere. The dendritic hypothesis of origin of the func-tions explains similarities in the living systems and supports the assumption of a ‘second genesis of life’. The dendritic scenario does not need carbon/phosphorus-based solutes in water-based solutions, which may have important implications for exobiology and extraterrestrial origin-of-life scenarios. An experiment to test the hypothesis is suggested.
Highlights
Classification of tenable origin of life theories may be based on different principles
Based on the fact that growth of dendritic crystals of inorganic or simple organic molecules possesses all basic functions of life and may contain ‘genetic’ information stored in their branches, I presented a hypothesis of the dendritic nature of a protobiont
According to this hypothesis the protobionts formed through a physico-chemical process known as dendritic crystallization
Summary
Classification of tenable origin of life theories may be based on different principles. Kauffman [5] introduced an origin-of-life hypothesis, which assumes that the order of the first living systems was the result of spontaneous self-organization, rather than of a selection process. Based on an observation that natural minerals have many of the properties of living organisms, e.g. crystals can grow and store information in the form of crystal defects, Cairns-Smith [15,16,17] put forth “the clay hypothesis” of the mineral origins of life and the subsequent “genetic takeover” He introduced the concept of a genograph “as a kind of ‘picture’ of imperfections in a crystal ... Notice that not all apparent functions of life are included into the list of the basic biological functions; for instance, motility is not one of those
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