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Submarine hot springs and the origin of lifeThe popular hypothesis that life originally arose in hydrothermal vents at oceanic ridge crests is examined. It is shown that the high temperatures in the vents would not allow synthesis of organic compounds, but would decompose them, unless the exposure time at vent temperature was short. Even if the essential organic molecules were available in the hot hydrothermal waters, the subsequent steps of polymerization and the conversion of these polymers into the first organisms would not occur as the vent waters were quenched to the colder temperatures of the primitive oceans.
Document ID
19880065369
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Miller, Stanley L.
(California Univ., San Diego La Jolla, CA, United States)
Bada, Jeffrey L.
(California, University La Jolla, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
August 18, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 334
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
88A52596
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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