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  Modeling Free Energy Availability from Hadean Hydrothermal Systems to the First Metabolism

Simoncini, E., Russell, M. J., & Kleidon, A. (2011). Modeling Free Energy Availability from Hadean Hydrothermal Systems to the First Metabolism. Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, 41(6), 529-532. doi:10.1007/s11084-011-9251-4.

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BGC1654.pdf (Publisher version), 120KB
 
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Simoncini, E., Author
Russell, M. J., Author
Kleidon, A.1, Author           
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1Research Group Biospheric Theory and Modelling, Dr. A. Kleidon, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Society, ou_1497761              

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Free keywords: Hydrothermal systems Free energy generation Thermodynamics Disequilibrium Metabolism Emergence of Life
 Abstract: Off-axis Hydrothermal Systems (HSs) are seen as the possible setting for the emergence of life. As the availability of free energy is a general requirement to drive any form of metabolism, we ask here under which conditions free energy generation by geologic processes is greatest and relate these to the conditions found at off-axis HSs. To do so, we present a conceptual model in which we explicitly capture the energetics of fluid motion and its interaction with exothermic reactions to maintain a state of chemical disequilibrium. Central to the interaction is the temperature at which the exothermic reactions take place. This temperature not only sets the equilibrium constant of the chemical reactions and thereby the distance of the actual state to chemical equilibrium, but these reactions also shape the temperature gradient that drives convection and thereby the advection of reactants to the reaction sites and the removal of the products that relate to geochemical free energy generation. What this conceptual model shows is that the positive feedback between convection and the chemical kinetics that is found at HSs favors a greater rate of free energy generation than in the absence of convection. Because of the lower temperatures and because the temperature of reactions is determined more strongly by these dynamics rather than an external heat flux, the conditions found at off-axis HSs should result in the greatest rates of geochemical free energy generation. Hence, we hypothesize from these thermodynamic considerations that off-axis HSs seem most conducive for the emergence of protometabolic pathways as these provide the greatest, abiotic generation rates of chemical free energy.

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Language(s): eng - English
 Dates: 2011
 Publication Status: Issued
 Pages: -
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 Table of Contents: -
 Rev. Type: -
 Identifiers: DOI: 10.1007/s11084-011-9251-4
ISI: ://WOS:000301590600005
Other: BGC1654
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Title: Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres
Source Genre: Journal
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Pages: - Volume / Issue: 41 (6) Sequence Number: - Start / End Page: 529 - 532 Identifier: ISSN: 0169-6149