Abstract
Boric acid has always been neglected in prebiotic chemistry because it is not a major component of biological macromolecules. Here we argue for a potential catalytic role of boric acid in peptide and nucleic acid synthesis. Today boron is an important component of sea water (0.4 mM). Its concentration at prebiotic times was probably higher. In water, boron appears mainly in the form of boric acid or its derivatives (esters and anhydrides).
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Prieur, B. (2001). Is Boric Acid the Missing Link in Prebiotic Chemistry?. In: Chela-Flores, J., Owen, T., Raulin, F. (eds) First Steps in the Origin of Life in the Universe. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1017-7_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1017-7_20
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