The origin of life on Earth requires the supply of phosphorus to synthesize global vital molecules. Closed lakes may have accumulated high concentrations of this element on early Earth. However, it is not clear if the absorption of phosphorous pre -phosphorous in such settings will be sustainable. A new research by Eth Zurich scientists, the University of Cambridge and the University of Science and Technology in China shows that large closed pelvic lakes can combine high concentrations of phosphorus in stable condition and very high rates of biological productivity.
Phosphor is a decisive element for all known biochemistry forms, playing vital roles in metabolism, cell structure, information coding polymers, for example, DNA.
However, the environmental conditions that made the phosphorous available enough in a water solution to enhance the chemical origins of life are unconfirmed.
Dr. Craig Walton, the main author of the study, said: “The large soda lakes that cannot be normal running can be preserved on phosphorus concentrations for a long time enough, even if life begins to be at some point – and consumes phosphorus constantly,” said Dr. Craig Walton, the lead author of the study.
“These lakes lose water only through evaporation. This means that the phosphorous is left in the water instead of washing it through rivers and tables.”
“As a result, very high concentrations of phosphorous can accumulate in these soda lakes.”
Not every lake of soda is suitable. Researchers are excluded from small.
“Once life develops, their phosphorous supplies will be exhausted faster than renewed. This would wear chemical reactions and developing life.”
“In large soda lakes, on the other hand, phosphorous concentrations are high enough to maintain both the basic chemical reactions and life in the long term.”
“These high concentrations are achieved through a large amount of river water that contains a phosphorus, while the water leaves the lake only through evaporation.”
“Since the phosphorous does not evaporate easily, it remains behind it and accumulates in the lake.”
In their research, Dr. Walton and his colleagues focused on Lake Mono in California, which has a high -phosphorous concentration in a stable condition despite the high biological productivity rates.
They said: “This is very important because in the small lakes, phosphorous is used before you can form new sums.”
They consider large soda lakes that have a highly fixed phosphorous supply in the early history of the Earth, the ideal environment for the origin of life.
They assume that life is likely to have originated in large water bodies more than small swimming pools, as Charles Darwin was suspected.
Thus, the origin of life can be closely related to the special environment of large soda lakes, which, due to its geological status and phosphorus balance, provided ideal conditions for the pre -manuscript chemistry.
“This new theory helps solve another piece of the mystery of the origin of life on Earth,” said Dr. Walton.
A paper The results were published in the magazine Science progress.
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Craig t. Andon And others. 2025. Lakes closed closed are sustainable phosphate through the origins of life. Science progress 11 (8); Two: 10.1126/Sciaadv.adq0027