Spontaneous Generation Revisited at the Molecular Level

  • Fabiana Ciciriello
  • Giovanna Costanzo
  • Samanta Pino
  • Ernesto Di Mauro
Chapter
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Abstract

A homogeneous chemical frame is described allowing one-pot syntheses from the one-carbon compound formamide NH2CHO to the whole set of nucleic bases needed as precursors of nucleic acids, as we know them. Formamide also catalyzes the formation of acyclonucleosides and the phosphorylation of nucleosides to nucleotides.

The conditions are described in which the survival of these prebiotically plausible nucleotides is favored. The scenario is simple: the polymeric forms are thermodynamically favored over the monomeric ones. The consequences of this very property are relevant: the formation and the accumulation of (pre)genetic information.

Keywords

Phosphodiester Bond Cyclic Form Spontaneous Generation Nucleic Basis Copper Phosphate 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the Italian Space Agency “MoMa project,” by ASI-INAF n. I/015/07/0 “Esplorazione del Sistema Solare,” Italy and by “The National Science Foundation,” USA (CBC Program).

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Fabiana Ciciriello
    • 1
  • Giovanna Costanzo
    • 2
  • Samanta Pino
    • 1
  • Ernesto Di Mauro
    • 3
  1. 1.Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia MolecolareUniversità “La Sapienza”RomeItaly
  2. 2.Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari, CNRRomeItaly
  3. 3.Fondazione “Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti” c/o Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia MolecolareUniversitá “La Sapienza” di RomaRomeItaly

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