生命起源的灰色地带。

The Grayness of the Origin of Life.

作者信息

Smith Hillary H, Hyde Andrew S, Simkus Danielle N, Libby Eric, Maurer Sarah E, Graham Heather V, Kempes Christopher P, Sherwood Lollar Barbara, Chou Luoth, Ellington Andrew D, Fricke G Matthew, Girguis Peter R, Grefenstette Natalie M, Pozarycki Chad I, House Christopher H, Johnson Sarah Stewart

机构信息

Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

出版信息

Life (Basel). 2021 May 29;11(6):498. doi: 10.3390/life11060498.

DOI:10.3390/life11060498

PMID:34072344

原文链接:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8226951/

Abstract

In the search for life beyond Earth, distinguishing the living from the non-living is paramount. However, this distinction is often elusive, as the origin of life is likely a stepwise evolutionary process, not a singular event. Regardless of the favored origin of life model, an inherent "grayness" blurs the theorized threshold defining life. Here, we explore the ambiguities between the biotic and the abiotic at the origin of life. The role of grayness extends into later transitions as well. By recognizing the limitations posed by grayness, life detection researchers will be better able to develop methods sensitive to prebiotic chemical systems and life with alternative biochemistries.

摘要

在寻找地球以外的生命时，区分生命体和非生命体至关重要。然而，这种区分往往难以捉摸，因为生命的起源可能是一个逐步进化的过程，而非单一事件。无论支持哪种生命起源模型，一种固有的“模糊性”都会模糊界定生命的理论阈值。在此，我们探讨生命起源时生物与非生物之间的模糊性。这种模糊性的作用也延伸到了后来的转变过程中。通过认识到模糊性带来的局限性，生命探测研究人员将能更好地开发出对益生元化学系统和具有替代生物化学性质的生命敏感的方法。