ELFT HÍRADÓ

[Zoltan Racz <racz AT general.elte.hu>]

Kedves Kollégák!

Dr. Laurie Barge a Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem
vendégeként Budapestre látogat és előadást tart. Ebből az alkalomból
szeretném meghívni Önöket az alábbi előadásra:

Dr. Laurie Barge,
Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory

"Fuel Cell Simulations of the Origin of Life"

Helyszín:
Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem, Fizikai Intézet,
Elméleti Fizika Tanszék Budafoki út 8. F-épület, III. lépcsőház,
magasföldszinti Szemináriumi szoba

Időpont: 2012. október 19. péntek, 15:00.

Abstract:
All life on Earth does two things: convert pH gradients into phosphate
bonds (synthesizing polyphosphate energy storage molecules) and use
electrochemical disequilibrium (the Eh difference between electron
donors and acceptors) as an energy source. The proton and electron
gradients across cell membranes are harnessed to drive biochemistry,
and similar pH and electrical gradients - generated by geochemical
processes - would have been produced at alkaline hydrothermal vents on
the early Earth. It has been suggested that life began in such environments
and initially developed the ability to harness these naturally occurring
Eh/pH gradients with inorganic components such as iron minerals.
Biological cells, as well as hydrothermal vent systems, are batteries;
and therefore we have conceptualized and tested the emergence of
bioenergetics under early Earth conditions in a membrane fuel cell
experiment. Simulating prebiotic chemistry in out-of-equilibrium systems,
with energy provided via chemical/electrochemical gradients across an
osmotic membrane, is significant for the study of origin of life on Earth as
well as the astrobiological potential of other worlds to promote a similar
emergence of metabolism.

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Lagzi István László