How to Test if Hydrothermal Vents Were the Origin of Life

Hydrothermal Conditions and the Origin of Cellular Life

Authors:

Deamer et al

Abstract:

The conditions and properties of hydrothermal vents and hydrothermal fields are compared in terms of their ability to support processes related to the origin of life. The two sites can be considered as alternative hypotheses, and from this comparison we propose a series of experimental tests to distinguish between them, focusing on those that involve concentration of solutes, self-assembly of membranous compartments, and synthesis of polymers.