Concept explainers
Describe the roles that montmorillonite clay and vesicles may have played in the origin of life.
To explain: The roles of montmorillonite clay and vesicles in the origin of life.
Concept introduction: Our earth is formed before 4.6 billion years ago from the sun with continuous bombardment of huge rocks and ices. This massive bombardment results in the generation of heat, which prevents the formation of sea and lakes by vaporizing the available water molecules on the surface of the earth. The earth bombardment by solar nebula creates the origin of life.
Explanation of Solution
The role of montmorillonite clay in the origin of life:
The montmorillonite clay is formed by aqueous weathering of volcanic ash. It catalyzes the formation of RNA nucleotides. Thus, the clay minerals play a major role in chemical evolution as well as the origin of life on the earth.
The role of vesicles in the origin of life:
The vesicle formation is catalyzed by the clay montmorillonite, which is the key factor for formation of protocells. Protocells are fluid-filled compartments covered by a membrane-like appearance, which exhibits the reproduction and metabolic activities and maintenance of the chemical environment inside the protocells.
Thus, accumulation of organic molecules increases the vesicle formation. The formed vesicles can reproduce, and compartmentalization of RNA molecules leads to the origin of life.
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