Life's origins may have begun in surface-bound prebiotic gels, according to new research. In a paper published in the journal ChemSystemsChem, Hiroshima University's Professor Tony Jia and colleagues introduce the 'prebiotic gel-first' framework. This theory posits that life emerged within surface-attached gel matrices, which share properties with modern microbial biofilms. These gels could have provided the necessary structure and function for early chemical systems to evolve, long before the first cells appeared.
The researchers suggest that prebiotic gels, through their ability to trap and organize molecules, may have overcome key barriers in pre-life chemistry. These gels could have allowed for molecular concentration, selective retention, and environmental buffering, setting the stage for biological evolution. The concept extends to astrobiology, implying the existence of 'xeno-films'—alien biofilm-like structures composed of non-terrestrial or modified terrestrial building blocks. This perspective shifts the focus from specific chemicals to structures as potential targets for life detection missions.
The authors plan to experimentally investigate their model by studying how simple chemical gels might have formed under early Earth conditions and the properties these gels could have contributed to emerging chemical systems. They hope this work will inspire further exploration of this and other underexplored theories about life's origins, inviting discussion and potentially new insights into our understanding of life's beginnings.
