Hypothesis: the origin of life in a hydrogel environment

A hypothesis is proposed that the first cell(s) on the Earth assembled in a hydrogel environment. Gel environments are capable of retaining water, oily hydrocarbons, solutes, and gas bubbles, and are capable of carrying out many functions, even in the absence of a membrane. Thus, the gel-like enviro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in biophysics and molecular biology 2005-09, Vol.89 (1), p.1-8
Main Authors: Trevors, Jack T., Pollack, Gerald H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assembly
Bacteria
Biomimetic Materials - chemistry
Biomimetic Materials - metabolism
Cell
Clays
Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm - chemistry
Cytoplasm - metabolism
Division
Earth
Earth (Planet)
Ecosystem
Evolution
Evolution, Chemical
Growth
Hydrogel
Hydrogels - chemistry
Hydrogels - metabolism
Life
Membrane
Models, Biological
Models, Chemical
Origin
Origin of Life
Water
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Summary:A hypothesis is proposed that the first cell(s) on the Earth assembled in a hydrogel environment. Gel environments are capable of retaining water, oily hydrocarbons, solutes, and gas bubbles, and are capable of carrying out many functions, even in the absence of a membrane. Thus, the gel-like environment may have conferred distinct advantages for the assembly of the first cell(s).
ISSN:0079-6107
1873-1732
DOI:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2004.07.003