This book addresses some important open questions in this interdisciplinary field of research. In spite of its broad scope, ranging from the earliest evidence of life on earth to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, the main focus is on chemical evolution. Once the macromolecules of life were formed, the evolution of the earliest life forms enhanced the importance of chirality. This led to the highly asymmetric environment of the macromolecules of the living cell the hallmark of life itself. The subject of chirality, in particular, is discussed in depth: the status of the weak force as the only true chiral influence is presented. A substantial number of papers review both the theoretical as well as the experimental basis of the origin of biochirality.

A second broad area discussed in detail is the RNA world. Some successes of this hypothesis are highlighted; the hierarchy of previous evolutionary stages leading to the origin of life, such as the pyrophosphate world, are considered. The question is raised whether useful hints may still be inferred from molecular fossils existing in contemporary cells.

Contents

The Origin, Evolution, and Distribution of Life in the Universe

C. Ponnamperuma

Chemical Origin and Early Evolution of Biological Energy Conversion

H. Baltscheffsky

Phosphate in Models for Chemical Evolution

G. Arrhenius, B. Gedulin and Mojzsis

Evolution in an RNA World

P. Schuster

Small Pathogenic RNAs of Plants: Living Fossils of the RNA World?

T.O. Diener

The Weak Force and the Origin of Life

A.J. MacDermott

The Origin of Chirality, the Role of Phase Transitions and Their Induction in Amino Acids

A. Salam

Spontaneous Regulating Mechanisms That May Have Led to the Origin of Life

J. Chela-Flores

Chirality and the Origin of Life

R. Navarro Gonzalez, R.K. Khanna and C. Ponnamperuma

>Search for Phase Transitions Changing Molecular Chirality

A. Figureau, E. Duval and A. Boukenter

Theoretical and Experimental Studies on the Possibility of Chirality Dependent Time Direction in Molecules

A.S. Garay

Extraterrestrial Intelligences

J. Heidmann

Discussion Sessions

Biochemical Markers in Precambian Sediments--Indian Subcontinent

S.S. Rane, A.V. Patankar, M.S. Chadha, B. Udayraj and S.M. Naqvi

Practicabilities and Limits of Stereospecific Autocatalysis: An Experimental Approach

T. Buhse, W. Thiemann, D. Lavabre and J.-C. Micheau

Ionizing Radiation and Chemical Processing of Waters on Early Earth

I.G. Draganic and S.I. Vujosevic

Chemical Effects of Ionizing Radiation and Sonic Energy in the Context of Chemical Evolution

A. Negron-Mendoza and G. Albarran

Differences in Radiolysis Behavior of D,L-Amino Acid in Primary Stage and Thermodynamic Equilibrium State

W.Q. Wang, J.L. Wu and J. Jiang

Experimental Searches for the Origin of Biomolecular Asymmetry

L. Keszthelyi

True and False Chirality

L.D. Barron

Chiral Interaction and Biomolecular Evolution

G. Gilat

Chiral Forces and Molecular Dissymmetry

R. Mohan

Viroids and Viruses at the Origin of Organized Life

L.J. Boya and P. Boya

The Role of Neoteny and Sociogenesis in the Evolution of Cell Structure

V.J.A. Novak