Was Charles Darwin wrong? Deep-sea vent evolution theory ’can help life on other planets’

Biologists have long believed the first cells evolved in warm, shallow pools of water. But scientists simulating self-assembling cells in an environment similar to underwater vents have discovered the heat, alkalinity and salt did actively encouraged synthetic cell formation.

Because similar vents exist on other worlds, astrobiologists believe these findings will help lead us to life in the distant worlds.

If we want to find life on other planets or moons, studies like ours can help us decide where to look

Professor Nick Lane

Naturalist Charles Darwin noted simple chemicals in small or shallow bodies of water might spontaneously form organic compounds in the presence of naturally-occurring energy from heat, light, or lightning.

However, new evidence produced by University College London (UCL) may rewrite almost two centuries of science.

By creating proto-cells, synthetic chemical particles that possess cell-like structures, in hot, alkaline seawater, the UCL researchers have contributed to evidence life actually originated in deep-sea hydrothermal vents instead of shallow pools.

The UCL study’s lead author, Professor Nick Lane, said: “There are multiple competing theories as to where and how life started.

“Underwater hydrothermal vents are among most promising locations for life’s beginnings — our findings now add weight to that theory with solid experimental evidence.”

Deep below the surface are vents where seawater meets with minerals from the Earth’s crust.

When these combine they create a warm, alkaline and hydrogen-rich environment.

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This process then creates mineral-rich chimneys with alkaline and acidic fluids, providing a source of energy facilitating chemical reactions between hydrogen and carbon dioxide to form increasingly complex organic compounds.

The study confirms some of the world’s oldest fossils first formed in these vents – adding even more evidence to their theory.

The team attempted to create proto-cells with a mixture of different fatty acids and fatty alcohols not previously used.

Dr Sean Jordan, the study’s first author, said: “Other experiments had all used a small number of molecule types, mostly with fatty acids of the same size, whereas in natural environments, you would expect to see a wider array of molecules.

The researchers found molecules with longer carbon chains required heat to form proto-cells.

A solution with a high pH helped the fledgling proto-cells retain their electric charge.

A saltwater environment also proved helpful, as the fat molecules combined more tightly in a salty fluid, forming more stable proto-cells.

For the first time, the researchers succeeded at creating self-assembling proto-cells in an environment resembling hydrothermal vents.

They discovered instead of heat, alkalinity and salt did not impeding proto-cell formation, it actually actively favoured it.

Dr Jordan added: “In our experiments, we have created one of the essential components of life under conditions that are more reflective of ancient environments than many other laboratory studies.

“We still don’t know where life first formed, but our study shows that you cannot rule out the possibility of deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

The researchers also revealed deep-sea hydrothermal vents are not unique to Earth, giving hope to finding alien life elsewhere in the Universe.

Professor Lane said: “Space missions have found evidence that icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn might also have similarly alkaline hydrothermal vents in their seas.

“While we have never seen any evidence of life on those moons, if we want to find life on other planets or moons, studies like ours can help us decide where to look.”

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