Life Originated Twice on Earth
New research traces the origins of our metabolism back in time The post Life Originated Twice on Earth appeared first on Nautilus .
Scientific research has revealed that life on Earth may have originated in two separate instances, challenging the long-held belief of a single origin. The study, published in Science Advances, delves into the evolution of life's metabolism, which consists of more than 400 complex chemical reactions essential for survival.
Researchers from Heinrich-Heine University in Germany, led an international team to uncover the origins of the enzymes responsible for these reactions. They discovered that the last universal ancestor of all cells, known as LUCA, possessed enzymes for only half of these reactions. The remaining enzymes were believed to be catalyzed by transition metals found near hydrothermal vents in the ocean.
As life transitioned from relying on its environment to self-sufficiency, bacteria and archaea each evolved their own unique enzymes to replace the metals in these reactions. This led to the conclusion that while there is only one origin of the genetic code, there were actually two origins of life on Earth. The study suggests that LUCA relied heavily on metals for energy before the emergence of these distinct lineages.
Written by urgent.news from Nautilus's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
