BLG 143 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Hydrogen Cyanide, Alexander Oparin, Carboxylic Acid
12 Jan 2017
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Theory: chemical rxns in atmosphere and oceans of early earth formed 1st complex c-containing compounds. Alexander oparin (1923), j. b. s haldane (1929: chemical evolution began w/ small organic compounds. Ex. formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide: formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide reacted to form: amino acids, n-bases, sugars, etc. These accumulated in waters: prebiotic soup: became proteins, nucleic acids, complex carbs, life began when one of these replicated. Stanley miller-harold urey experiment (know experiment + diagram) Hypothesis: can complex compounds form from simple molecules, forming prebiotic soup: put ch4, nh3, h2 (early atmosphere) in closed system w/ liquid h2o (early ocean), applied heat (boiling primordial earth), electricity (lightning) as energy sources, products: hcn, h2co. Important precursors for more complex organic molecules including amino acids. In more recent experiments, amino acids and other organic molecules are formed easily under these conditions. All proteins are made from 20 amino acids. All amino acids: central c bonded to nh2, cooh, h, and side chain.
