Abstract:

Increasingly, prebiotic processes are recognized to be strongly influenced by the environmental conditions in which they occur. While early Earth remains the only known example of prebiotic chemistry leading to an origins of life, the environmental conditions that promoted increasing chemical complexity are not unique to our planet. As planetary exploration advances, a broader range of planetary environments must be considered within the context of prebiotic chemistry. Ocean worlds such as Europa, Titan, and Enceladus provide compelling examples of environments where prebiotic or biological processes may occur under conditions distinct from those of early Earth. For example, any prebiotic or biological activity on these worlds would likely be confined to subsurface oceans, presenting unique challenges for chemical complexity. For example, condensation reactions required for the formation of increasingly complex prebiotic systems are generally thermodynamically unfavorable in aqueous environments. Several mechanisms have been proposed to overcome these challenges, including the early incorporation of phosphate into prebiotic systems, wet–dry cycling, and low-water-activity environments associated with processes such as serpentinization. This seminar will explore how planetary environments, including saline systems and the phosphorus cycles of ocean worlds, influence macromolecular synthesis and prebiotic phosphorus chemistry. These studies can provide insight into the prebiotic potential beyond Earth.

Speaker: Dr. Katherine Dzurilla (NASA JPL)

Host: Shawn McGlynn, ELSI.

Date: Wed. 24 June 16:00-17:00 JST

Venue: Mishima Hall, ELSI (Hybrid)