The studies of Fox and Harada throw light on a very substantial aspect of the
problem of the origin of life — the emergence of organic compounds, amino
acids respectively, has taken place in the initial stages of the Earth formation (when
temperatures were much higher and UV-light has undisturbed and in great profusion
reached the earth surface) or at a later phase at comparatively lower temperatures
(100—300°C) in the presence of primeval atmosphere and suitable hydrosphere. The
second possibility which was actually launched by them gives grounds for
thought. It directed the search for life origins not only to the World Ocean but
also to other smaller hot water sources around volcanoes, which at that time have
abounded in seas and on the earth surface accompanied by powerful irradiations of all
sorts and electric discharges. A special attention must be paid to the
attempts to accomplish abiogenic synthesis of high-molecular organic compounds and
to create “something living” or “some kind of an independently existing organism” in
laboratory conditions, which was mentioned by Haldane (1929). This is a long-lived
human dream and its realization would be the pinnacle of the human genius. But here
the great question arises: is it possible to have it accomplished?
It is hard to give a definite answer to that question, especially if it were to be
positive, since the very goal of obtaining a live object for a comparatively short time
and in the presence of already existing
living creatures would lie somewhere in the sphere of the impossible. To
reproduce life that has been created by nature for billions of years
incorporating in itself huge numbers of naturally selected atoms and
molecules bound by energy defined chemical bonds into high-molecular
organic substances making up the living systems that have survived the
severe competition in the struggle for existence in the evolutionary process
is probably the hardest task for the researcher.
imagen a, b, c
figure 1–6. Proteinoid micro-spheres: (a) — a general picture of single and grouped microspheres; (b) — associated microspheres; (c) — diads at increased pH (After Fox, 1965).