Life as a geologic force: New opportunities for paleontology?

Paleobiology ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Westbroek
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Profound Influence ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Geochemical Reactions ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Radiation Modeling ◽  
Physical And Chemical

From a geological point of view, life is an integrated part of the exogenic cycle, a mere elaboration of the physical and chemical processes operating on earth. The origin of life marks the transition from a physical and chemical world into one where physical, chemical, and biological processes form an integrated continuum. Life is at work in a big way, and one may regard the biosphere as a laminar, highly activated global envelope, energized by solar radiation, modeling the terrestrial physiognomy, and catalyzing major geochemical reactions. There can be no doubt that the biota have exerted a profound influence on the development of our planet. The history of life and the earth is one of coevolution (Dubos 1979).

scholarly journals Astrochemistry as the basics of Astrobiology: from simplest molecules to bioindicatorsonexoplanets surfaces

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-64
Author(s):  
A.G. Yeghikyan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Origin Of Life ◽  
Biological Evolution ◽  
Complex Compounds ◽  
Optically Active ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Heavy Hydrocarbons ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
The Origin Of Life

The problem of the origin of Life is discussed from the astrophysical point of view. Most biologists and geologists up to the present time believe that Life was originated on the Earth in some initial natural chemical pre-reactors, where a mixture of water, ammonia, methane containing species and some other substances, under the influence of an energy source like, e.g. lightning, turned into quite complex compounds such as amino acids and complex hydrocarbons. In fact, under conditions of the primordial Earth, it is not possible to obtain such pre-biological molecules by not-bio-chemical methods, as discussed in this paper. Instead, an astrophysical view of the problem of the origin of Life on the Earth is proposed and it is recalled that the biological evolution on the Earth was preceded by the chemical evolution of complex chemical compounds, mostly under extraterrestrial conditions, where it is only possible to form optically active amino acids, sugars and heavy hydrocarbons necessary for constructing the first pre-biomolecules. Then, according to a widespread point of view, they were brought to Earth by comets and dust between 4.5 and 3.8 billion years ago. Some part of the matter of comets landed unchanged during grazing collisions. Prebiotic complexes on the surface of the planet participate in the formation of a specific cover with a reflective spectrum (or color index), whose characteristic details can be tried to reveal by observation. The most promising bio-indicators at present are optically active amino acids and their derivatives, however, the existing observational capabilities are insufficient to identify them. More promising as (pre)biomarkers are the heavy hydrocarbons discussed in this article, in particular bitumen and isoprene hydrocarbons.

The search for protolife

1975 ◽  
Vol 189 (1095) ◽  
pp. 213-230 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Geochemistry ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Banded Iron Formations ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Greenstone Belts ◽  
Iron Formations

Convincing evidence for the existence of extraterrestrial protolife has been found in the organic geochemistry and fossil contents of carbonaceous meteorites. The search for prebiological protolife in the early history of the Earth has so far been concentrated on the investigation of low-grade metamorphic areas characterized by greenstone belts. Despite some puzzling isotope data, it seems likely that life had already colonized the areas represented by these low-grade terrains. It is suggested that a more profitable search could be extended to high-grade metamorphic areas, which are likely to include older rocks. Even the oldest rocks known ( ca . 4000 Ma B.P.), however, show evidence (in relics of banded iron formations, and in the presence of marble and disseminated graphite) of biological activity. It seems that carbon isotope ratios have so far provided the most powerful tool towards understanding this situation. Efforts should be directed towards identifying a period in Earth history which postdates the origin of life but antedates the origin of photosynthesis, but from present evidence it would seem that both events occurred before the formation of the oldest rocks known.

scholarly journals Simplicity out of complexity? On physical eschatology and abiogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
Milan Cirkovic
Keyword(s):  
Cosmological Horizon ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Continuity Thesis ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Probable Origin ◽  
Phylogenetic Lineages ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Universe

Standard reductionist narrative about the necessity of complex systems arising from simple subsystems can be undermined from multiple directions. Here, I shall suggest an unexpected way of such undermining which occurs upon joining our best understanding of the future evolution of the universe (as outlined by physical eschatology) with the continuity thesis which plays the key role in studies of the origin of life (abiogenesis). Many aspects of evolution - including physical, chemical, and astrobiological evolution - would look quite different from what we empirically find around us at the present epoch if the history of the universe within our cosmological horizon were to be observed from a timeless ?Archimedean? point. Avoiding the pitfalls of this chronocentric bias leads to several unexpected conclusions, one of them being that the directed panspermia, coupled with advanced biotechnology, represents the most probable origin of almost all phylogenetic lineages in the universe. Therefore, complex lifeforms are required for emergence of (almost) all simple lifeforms. This has several counterintuitive and unexpected philosophical consequences.

The Tempo and mode(S) of Prebiotic Evolution

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 419-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Lazcano
Keyword(s):  
Origin Of Life ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Biological Evolution ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Early Diversification ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Widespread Phenomenon ◽  
The Origin Of Life

AbstractDifferent current ideas on the origin of life are critically examined. Comparison of the now fashionable FeS/H2S pyrite-based autotrophic theory of the origin of life with the heterotrophic viewpoint suggest that the later is still the most fertile explanation for the emergence of life. However, the theory of chemical evolution and heterotrophic origins of life requires major updating, which should include the abandonment of the idea that the appearance of life was a slow process involving billions of years. Stability of organic compounds and the genetics of bacteria suggest that the origin and early diversification of life took place in a time period of the order of 10 million years. Current evidence suggest that the abiotic synthesis of organic compounds may be a widespread phenomenon in the Galaxy and may have a deterministic nature. However, the history of the biosphere does not exhibits any obvious trend towards greater complexity or «higher» forms of life. Therefore, the role of contingency in biological evolution should not be understimated in the discussions of the possibilities of life in the Universe.

Seeking to uncover biology's chemical roots

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addy Pross
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Significant Development ◽  
The Road ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Systems Chemistry ◽  
Biological World ◽  
Inanimate Matter ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Opening Up

Despite the considerable advances in molecular biology over the past several decades, the nature of the physical–chemical process by which inanimate matter become transformed into simplest life remains elusive. In this review, we describe recent advances in a relatively new area of chemistry, systems chemistry, which attempts to uncover the physical–chemical principles underlying that remarkable transformation. A significant development has been the discovery that within the space of chemical potentiality there exists a largely unexplored kinetic domain which could be termed dynamic kinetic chemistry. Our analysis suggests that all biological systems and associated sub-systems belong to this distinct domain, thereby facilitating the placement of biological systems within a coherent physical/chemical framework. That discovery offers new insights into the origin of life process, as well as opening the door toward the preparation of active materials able to self-heal, adapt to environmental changes, even communicate, mimicking what transpires routinely in the biological world. The road to simplest proto-life appears to be opening up.

A Dynamic Systems Approach to Personality

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Pervin
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Systems ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Dynamic View ◽  
The Future ◽  
History Of

David Magnusson has been the most articulate spokesperson for a holistic, systems approach to personality. This paper considers three concepts relevant to a dynamic systems approach to personality: dynamics, systems, and levels. Some of the history of a dynamic view is traced, leading to an emphasis on the need for stressing the interplay among goals. Concepts such as multidetermination, equipotentiality, and equifinality are shown to be important aspects of a systems approach. Finally, attention is drawn to the question of levels of description, analysis, and explanation in a theory of personality. The importance of the issue is emphasized in relation to recent advances in our understanding of biological processes. Integrating such advances into a theory of personality while avoiding the danger of reductionism is a challenge for the future.

Perspectives of Reforming the System of Interbudget Relations in Russia (in the Light of the International Experience)

2006 ◽  
pp. 112-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Nazarov
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Intergovernmental Relations ◽  
International Experience ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Short History ◽  
History Of

The attempts to reconstruct the instruments of interbudget relations take place in all federations. In Russia such attempts are especially popular due to the short history of intergovernmental relations. Thus the review of the ¬international experience of managing interbudget relations to provide economic and social welfare can be useful for present-day Russia. The author develops models of intergovernmental relations from the point of view of making decisions about budget authorities’ distribution. The models that can be better applied in the Russian case are demonstrated.

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