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70 años de química prebiótica: el experimento de Miller | ciclo Los viernes de la evolución

elcolegionacionalmx・102 minutes read

Stanley Miller's groundbreaking experiment in 1953 simulated the primitive Earth's atmosphere, leading to the production of amino acids like glycine and alanine, sparking the field of prebiotic chemistry studies on life's origin. Various experiments have been conducted to synthesize prebiotic molecules, drawing inspiration from biology and geochemical processes, aiming to understand the complexity of life's origin.

Insights

Stanley Miller's experiment in 1953 marked the beginning of prebiotic chemistry studies, simulating the Earth's primitive atmosphere to produce amino acids, laying the foundation for understanding life's origin.
Dr. Alicia Negrón Mendoza emphasized the diversification of precursors and energy sources post-Miller's experiment, expanding the scope of prebiotic chemistry research beyond initial findings.
Dr. Sandra Ramírez focused on molecules like hydrocyanic acid and methane in outer planets and moons, linking their formation to colors observed and shedding light on extraterrestrial chemical processes.
The Cassini Huygens mission to Titan revealed a varied geological surface and the presence of complex compounds, inspiring experiments on Earth to simulate Titan's atmosphere and study the potential for prebiotic chemistry, hinting at the universality of life's building blocks.

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Recent questions

What gases were used in Miller's experiment?
Methane, ammonia, hydrogen, water vapor.

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Summary

00:00

"Evolution of Prebiotic Chemistry: A Summary"

Dr. José Sarucan and another speaker welcome attendees to an evolution Friday session at the National College.
The first successful experiment on prebiotic chemistry was published in the magazine Sáenz on May 5, 1953.
Stanley Miller chose the University of Chicago for his doctorate due to financial aid for Czech students.
Miller's experiment marked the beginning of prebiotic chemistry studies on the origin of life.
Dr. Alicia Negrón Mendoza discusses the diversification of precursors and energy sources post-Miller's experiment.
Dr. Sandra Ramírez focuses on molecules like hydrocyanic acid and methane in outer planets and moons.
The origin of life was divided into stages by Alexander Ivano, emphasizing a reducing atmosphere and organic compound formation.
Oparin proposed the emergence of bacteria from organic compounds in a reducing, anaerobic environment.
Harold Reik's experiment simulated the primitive Earth's atmosphere, leading to Stanley Miller's groundbreaking experiment.
Miller's experiment, using electric discharges on methane, ammonia, hydrogen, and water vapor, produced amino acids like glycine and alanine.

18:51

"Miller's Experiment: Origin of Life Chemistry"

Stanley Miller's laboratory received a fax from the South Kensington Natural History Museum in London offering to buy samples of the original experiment for an exhibition.
Miller had preserved all the results of his experiments in boxes, including samples from different gas runs and electric discharges.
A tube containing samples from the original experiment was taken out by Miller for analysis.
A contemporary analysis using gas chromatography mass spectrometry revealed a diverse range of amino acids and additional compounds beyond what Miller had reported.
The experiment led to the discovery of uracil in a sample from an asteroid, supporting the idea of early earth chemistry.
NASA provided a piece of the Murchison meteorite for comparison with amino acids synthesized in Miller's experiment, showing similar amino acids in the same proportions.
Prebiotic chemistry aims to synthesize organic compounds to understand the origin of life, focusing on matter and energy sources like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and various energy forms.
Miller's experiment opened the field of prebiotic chemistry, simulating chemical processes before life's emergence.
Miller's experiment demonstrated the formation of amino acids through hydrocyanic acid and aldehydes, with variations in atmospheric conditions affecting results.
Various experiments have been conducted to synthesize prebiotic molecules, drawing inspiration from current biology and geochemical processes.

37:20

"Origin of Life: Experiments and Discoveries"

Miller's experiment simulated the primitive Earth's atmosphere, forming amino acids and compounds with gases and important intermediaries.
Post-World War II, experiments varied energy sources and gas compositions, resembling Miller's setup.
Various experiments, like irradiating gas mixtures with energetic electrons, simulated natural radiation and solar conditions.
Joan Gold synthesized adenine, a nucleic acid component, by freezing a methane-ammonia-water mixture and irradiating it.
Alfonso Luis Herrera found amino acids in mixtures, contributing to hypotheses on life's origin.
Evolution from RNA to proteins involved ribozymes storing genetic info and catalyzing reactions.
Combinatorial chemistry and one-pot synthesis aim to efficiently synthesize compounds for life's origin.
Traditional perspectives on compound formation face challenges like poor performance and complex reactions.
Geochemical scenarios with diverse organic compounds lead to interconnected molecule networks with good yields.
The whole in prebiotic chemistry is more than the sum of its parts, emphasizing the complexity of life's origin.

55:35

Exploring Titan's Atmosphere for Prebiotic Insights

Dr. Rafael Navarro González, a Mexican collaborator, passed away during the pandemic, and Dr. François was the director of the doctoral thesis in France.
Dr. Sandra Ramírez focuses on understanding the colors seen on outer planets and their moons, which are linked to the formation of compounds from precursors like hydrocyanic acid.
The discussion aims to extrapolate laboratory results, like those from the Miller-Urey experiment, to other parts of the universe.
The Miller-Urey experiment involved a week-long process with a mixture of gases representing the primitive Earth's atmosphere, including methane, ammonia, and water vapor.
The gases underwent electric discharges, passed through a capacitor, and led to the production of amino acids like glycine and alpha alanine.
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, has a dense, cold atmosphere primarily composed of nitrogen and methane, which can generate various organic compounds like nitriles.
Titan's atmosphere is denser than Earth's, with a lower surface temperature of 94 degrees Kelvin, equivalent to -170 degrees Celsius.
The atmosphere of Titan extends to higher altitudes compared to Earth, with pressure and temperature profiles showing similarities to Earth's atmosphere.
Ammonia and methane in Titan's original atmosphere transformed into molecular nitrogen and hydrogen due to solar radiation, with hydrogen escaping into space.
The study of Titan's atmosphere provides insights into extraterrestrial habitability and chemical interactions, offering potential for understanding prebiotic conditions on Earth.

01:11:51

"Titan's Atmosphere and Huygens Probe Mission"

Titan's atmosphere contains regular concentrations of two to three to five percent of a metal gas, along with traces of monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and nitriles.
The Cassini Huygens mission to Saturn's moon Titan had two stages, with the Huygens Probe landing on Titan's surface to gather information.
The mission was a joint effort between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency, consisting of the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens Probe designed to penetrate Titan's atmosphere.
The Huygens Probe descended into Titan's atmosphere on January 14, 2005, using a parachute system for landing.
The Probe was programmed to work for 4 hours and 36 minutes, but it functioned for 27 hours, collecting more data than expected.
The Probe's observations revealed a varied geological surface on Titan, including hydrocarbon lakes, mist, canyons, small volcanoes, and sand dunes.
Experiments were conducted on Earth to simulate Titan's atmosphere, using electric discharges to break down nitrogen molecules and create chemical tracers for the Cassini Huygens mission.
The experiments led to the formation of aerosol analogues known as tholins, which polymerized gaseous molecules into complex compounds.
The fate of these aerosols was studied by exposing them to basic hydrolysis conditions, simulating the presence of a liquid ocean of water and ammonia beneath Titan's surface.
The research aimed to determine if prebiotic chemistry could occur on Titan, with the presence of all essential elements for life, including carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and now oxygen.

01:27:31

Aerosol Analysis Reveals Amino Acid Production Origins

Analyzed aerosols left for ten weeks, found production of amino acids like alanine, glycine, valine, proline, cerine, and urea.
Amino acids can be generated through recombination of raw materials under suitable conditions.
Amino acids can exist in two spatial forms, L and B isomers, with living beings using only one type.
Experiments aimed to determine the chemical structure of aerosols, focusing on monomeric or complex structures.
Extrapolated results to Titan scenario, estimating accumulation of aerosols and amino acids on its surface.
Dragonfly mission planned to explore Titan, seeking chemical evidence of past or present life based on carbon and water.
Mission to explore dunes in Shangri-La and Selk Crater, using a multirotor vehicle for sampling and analysis.
Water on Earth originated from comets and solar nebula, with inner planets capturing water during formation.
Temperature measurements suggest more water in the area where Earth formed than previously thought.
Water's genealogy traced back to Interstellar medium, with comets preserving primitive water from old red stars.

01:44:26

Unraveling the Mystery of Amino Acid Asymmetry

Research topic: The origin of asymmetry in amino acids is a research topic with no concrete answer yet.
Difficulty in investigation: Investigating asymmetry is challenging due to the unknown reasons behind it.
Proposals for asymmetry: Various proposals exist, such as the role of surfaces like clay in amplifying one amino acid over the other.
Role of radiation: Radiation, including electromagnetic waves, is proposed to have played a role in amplifying one isomer over the other.
Laboratory experiments: Experiments in the laboratory typically result in a racemic mixture, requiring a chiral agent to favor one isomer.
Homochirality in life: The question of whether life caused homochirality or vice versa remains open and is a topic of debate.
Analytical challenges: Analyzing molecules formed in outer space presents challenges, with some molecules showing slight excesses.
Mineral surfaces: Certain mineral surfaces, like carbonates, complicate the study and analysis of asymmetry in amino acids.
Formation of macromolecules: The challenge in prebiotic chemistry lies in forming macromolecules like proteins with specific orders of amino acids.
Combinatorial chemistry: Using combinatorial chemistry on suitable surfaces can lead to the formation of proteins, but the process is complex and random.

02:02:17

Miller's Experiment: Mimicking Primitive Atmospheric Layers

The experiment involving covering flasks with asbestos was inspired by Stanley Miller's image, aiming to prevent student harm in case of an explosion.
A question from Bogotá, Colombia, inquired about Miller's experiment, which was designed to mimic possible layers of the primitive atmosphere, focusing on changing composition and proportions.
Changes in atmospheric layers were discussed, highlighting variations in component proportions, such as nitrogen and ozone formation due to outer space radiation.
Experiments' variants often include altering parameters like pressure, composition, and component proportions, such as methane or ammonia levels.
Computer simulations are used to understand microscopic atoms and macroscopic cells interactions, aiding in molecule synthesis and testing.
A suggestion was made to write a review article integrating various experiment replicas related to Miller's work on chemical evolution.
Challenges faced in experimental projects based on prebiotic chemistry in terms of budgetary support were discussed, emphasizing the need for extensive efforts to secure funding.
Similar environments to Titan, such as Miranda satellite and gaseous planets like Neptune and Uranus, were mentioned, indicating potential for organic compound formation.
An anecdote about an unpublished experiment by Miller and Segan, simulating Jupiter's atmosphere, was shared, showcasing their resourcefulness and dedication.
The conclusion highlighted the importance of collaboration, passion, and perseverance in scientific endeavors, with acknowledgments to supporting institutions and colleagues worldwide.

02:20:19

DNA Discovery and Origin of Life Experiment

In 1953, a crucial year for microbiology, Watson and Crick formulated the double helix model of the DNA molecule, while in the 1940s, a Soviet scholar conducted an experiment to determine the origin of life on Earth using 20 amino acids to demonstrate the formation of essential amino acids under simulated Earth's atmosphere conditions.

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