Crystallization non-equilibria to accumulate and polymerize RNA in early evolution

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Dieter Braun
• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Biophysics ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 549991943

Understanding how simple organic precursor molecules were selected and accumulated from a supposedly highly complex prebiotic pool is one of the central problems of the research addressing life's origins. Previous investigations by the applicant's team suggested that nucleotides of low solubility could be sequestered from the prebiotic pool through crystallization. The partner-country applicant's team has demonstrated selective accumulation of prebiotic building blocks and their oligomers upon thermophoresis in thermal traps that serve as mimics of rock pores present in an early Earth geological environment. In the frame of the current proposal we will combine these two approaches to study how the synergic effect of organic crystallization and non-equilibrium physical phenomena likely existing in a primordial environment could aid the selective accumulation of the first nucleic acid and peptide molecules and their precursors. This research will help answering the most intriguing questions surrounding the origin of life, such as the origins of genetic coding or homochirality.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Cooperation Partner: Judit Sponer