Life could hve emerged from lakes with high P

[ant0n]

Life as we know it requires phosphorus (P). As one of the six main chemical elements of life (CHONPS), it forms the backbone of DNA and RNA molecules, acts as the main currency for energy in all cells and anchors the lipids that separate cells from their surrounding environment.

The extremely high phosphate levels in some ancient lakes and ponds would have driven reactions that put phosphorus into the molecular building blocks of RNA, proteins, and fats, all of which were needed to get life going.

The carbon dioxide-rich air on the early Earth, some four billion years ago, would have been ideal for creating such lakes and allowing them to reach maximum levels of phosphorus. Carbon dioxide dissolves in water to create acid conditions that efficiently release phosphorus from rocks.

The early Earth could have hosted many carbonate-rich lakes, which would have had high enough phosphorus concentrations to get life started.

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-life-emerged-lakes-high-phosphorus.html?fbclid=IwAR0S7BbD9QOQPART_x0TmVeRHJo5Pd3tZzYzFEzeu-wbC6uYeUmRmRZ16Fk

Edited January 1, 2020 by ant0n