Preprint Essay Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Mechanical Energy before Chemical Energy at the Origins of Life?

Version 1 : Received: 4 June 2019 / Approved: 13 June 2019 / Online: 16 August 2019 (00:00:00 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 4 June 2019 / Approved: 13 June 2019 / Online: 9 January 2020 (00:00:00 CET)
Version 3 : Received: 4 June 2019 / Approved: 13 June 2019 / Online: 25 March 2020 (00:00:00 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Hansma, H.G. Mechanical Energy before Chemical Energy at the Origins of Life? Sci 2020, 2, 88. Hansma, H.G. Mechanical Energy before Chemical Energy at the Origins of Life? Sci 2020, 2, 88.

Abstract

Forces and mechanical energy are prevalent in living cells. This may be because forces and mechanical energy preceded chemical energy at life’s origins. Mechanical energy is more readily available in non-living systems than the various other forms of energy used by living systems. Two possible prebiotic environments that might have provided mechanical energy are hot pools that experience wet/dry cycles and mica sheets as they move, open and shut, as heat pumps or in response to water movements.

Keywords

origin of life; origins of life; mechanical energy; mechanochemistry; work; entropic forces; mica; biotite; Muscovite; wet/dry cycles; clay

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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