Evolutionary chemistry, the study of elementary molecules in the Universe
and present on the primitive Earth, is reaping unexpected rewards
on present day Earth. While developing an experimental scenario of
chemical evolution, scientists at the CNRS laboratory entitled "Organisation
moléculaire. Evolution et matériaux fluorés"
(Molecular organization. Evolution and fluorinated materials) located
in Montpellier applied the knowledge they gained to developing new
"clean" industrial processes and high performance analytical
methods.
In
the scenario, linear processes occurring in the planetary reactor
(primitive Earth) feed a molecular engine that recycles its components
and organizes matter and energy into the higher levels of complexity
that are necessary to life. However, this only occurs above a certain
turnover. The conditions for this engine to turn sufficiently - alternating
wet and dry phases (emerging continents and liquid water) and the
presence of sufficiently high proportions of the necessary molecules
- were satisfied between 4.3 and 3.9 billion years ago, when life
appeared.
The
engine is fuelled by molecules that are activated (by UV rays, lightning,
meteor strikes, etc.) and from extraterrestrial material (meteorites,
comets, etc.). The first living organisms were formed in an environment
rich in energetic molecules, e.g. nitriles, which they used in their
metabolism.
The
team assumed that some existing organisms must have retained the ability
to feed on nitriles and discovered bacteria with just such a nitrile-metabolising
ability, leading to a biotechnological process for producing large
amounts of polyacrylamides, which can absorb 300 times their weight
in water.
Another
process arising from studying the primitive production of proteins
is the patented non-polluting synthesis of methionine as a cereal
supplement for feeding cattle.
Highly
efficient analytical methods have been developed by the team to quantify
the organic matter supplied to the primitive Earth by micrometeorites
and these methods may have applications in the medical, pharmaceutical
and environmental fields.
The
researchers' scenario has already led to non-polluting industrial
processes and may eventually offer solutions to modern problems concerning
detergents, preservatives, water treatment, cosmetics, insecticides,
etc.
