Spontaneous formation of prebiotic compartment colonies on Hadean Earth and Pre-Noachian Mars

Abstract

The primitive cells that emerged at the origin of life are commonly viewed as spherical biosurfactant shells, freely suspended in aqueous media. This model explains initial, but not subsequent events in the development process towards structured protocells. Taking into consideration the involvement of naturally occurring surfaces, which were abundant on the early Earth, we report feasible and productive pathways for the development of primitive cells. Surfaces intrinsically possess energy, easily utilized by the interfacing amphiphiles, such as lipids, to attain self-organization and spontaneous transformations.