Chapter 1
Physics in the Origin of Life
Abstract Origin of life started from chemical evolution on the earth by using basic
atomic elements such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus. These
elements produce basic biomolecules such as glycine, alanine, lactic acid, and
pyruvic acid. Hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde play key role in formation of
these biomolecules.
1.1 Origin of Life
1.1.1 Chemical Evolution on the Earth
Chemical evolution on the earth has proceeded in abundant elements of C, O, H, N
and P, and they are also abundant in the universe. Elements in a closed system
undergo chemical reaction among them, and finally result in equilibrium state as
total bond energy A is minimum in the following equation where E i and n i indicate
chemical bond energy and number of chemical bond of species i, respectively under
the restriction condition of number of the elements.
A ffi
X
i
n i E i
Computer simulation of C 2 H 10 NO 8 system shows significant amount of important
biomolecules such as water, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, ethane, formic acid,
acetic acid, methanol, formaldehyde, ethylene, hydrogen cyanide, methylamine,
acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetone, ketene, formamide, glycine, acetylene, lactic acid,
acetamide, ethylene glycol, benzene, alanine, furan, pyrole, pyridine, cyanogen,
benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, pyrimidine, phenol, xylene, benzaldehyde, naphthalene,
anthracene and asphalt [1] (Table 1.1). This result shows that essential biomolecules
are produced in equilibrium state of C, H, O and N. Generation of elements are
divided into nuclear fusion and supernova explosion by atomic number of iron.
Elements until atomic number of iron, 26 are created by nuclear fusion. On the other
hand, elements of atomic number over 26 are created in high energy condition such
© Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature 2018
K. Ohki, H. Miyata, Physical Principles of Biomembranes and Cells,
Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56841-4_1
1
Physics in the Origin of Life
Abstract Origin of life started from chemical evolution on the earth by using basic
atomic elements such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus. These
elements produce basic biomolecules such as glycine, alanine, lactic acid, and
pyruvic acid. Hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde play key role in formation of
these biomolecules.
1.1 Origin of Life
1.1.1 Chemical Evolution on the Earth
Chemical evolution on the earth has proceeded in abundant elements of C, O, H, N
and P, and they are also abundant in the universe. Elements in a closed system
undergo chemical reaction among them, and finally result in equilibrium state as
total bond energy A is minimum in the following equation where E i and n i indicate
chemical bond energy and number of chemical bond of species i, respectively under
the restriction condition of number of the elements.
A ffi
X
i
n i E i
Computer simulation of C 2 H 10 NO 8 system shows significant amount of important
biomolecules such as water, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, ethane, formic acid,
acetic acid, methanol, formaldehyde, ethylene, hydrogen cyanide, methylamine,
acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetone, ketene, formamide, glycine, acetylene, lactic acid,
acetamide, ethylene glycol, benzene, alanine, furan, pyrole, pyridine, cyanogen,
benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, pyrimidine, phenol, xylene, benzaldehyde, naphthalene,
anthracene and asphalt [1] (Table 1.1). This result shows that essential biomolecules
are produced in equilibrium state of C, H, O and N. Generation of elements are
divided into nuclear fusion and supernova explosion by atomic number of iron.
Elements until atomic number of iron, 26 are created by nuclear fusion. On the other
hand, elements of atomic number over 26 are created in high energy condition such
© Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature 2018
K. Ohki, H. Miyata, Physical Principles of Biomembranes and Cells,
Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56841-4_1
1