The Origin of Life Based on Physical Principles

Abstract

All the life forms known to us are completely dependent on organic and physical chemistry. Life depends on the chemistry of carbon compounds and on the laws concerning chemical reactions. Life depends on a temperature low enough to allow covalent bonds to form, with enzyme assistance, but generally not at a high enough temperature to break chemical bonds. Life depends on having an aqueous environment within cells where vital reactions can take place. Living machines function as isothermal engines that require the abstraction of available energy from the environment into special forms that a cell can use.