Molecular Origins of Life, Munich 2023

Session

Session VIII

Jun 21, 2023, 4:30 PM

Online

Conveners

Session VIII: Talks

• Jack W. Szostak (University of Chicago)
• Nita Sahai (U Akron, USA)

Session VIII: Q&A

• There are no conveners in this block

73. From RNA Copying Chemistry to RNA Replication

Jack W. Szostak (University of Chicago)

6/21/23, 4:30 PM

I will discuss recent advances in the chemistry of nonenzymatic RNA copying, including potentially prebiotic pathways for activation chemistry that are compatible with template-directed primer extension. I will also discuss the Virtual Circular Genome model for RNA replication within protocells, and recent experimental tests of this model.

74. MuSeCOL: Mineral-Catalyzed Mutualism and Selection from a Complicated Broth in the Origins of Life

Nita Sahai (U Akron, USA)

6/21/23, 4:55 PM

The appearance of life at ~ 4 Ga was a result of complex geochemical events involving the interaction of primitive atmosphere, water, dissolved ions, and minerals leading to the abiotic (nonenzymatic) synthesis of biomolecule monomers or their precursors, that were selected from a complicated prebiotic molecular broth and polymerized into oligomers, and ultimately self-assembled to form the...