The first living cells may have emerged from hot springs beneath the ocean floor and been transported elsewhere through water bubbles.
Despite centuries of research, science has yet to determine how life on Earth formed over 3.5 billion years ago.
Some believe that life originated on land, while others argue it began in water. However, no one can say for certain where in the water this occurred.
According to a recent study, researchers suggest that an essential component of early life may have originated from hydrothermal reactions beneath the ocean floor, specifically at hot springs.
The origin of life on Earth may have begun from… hot springs. (Photo: Getty).
This study focused on one of the most prominent features of cells – the lipid membrane. This membrane serves to define boundaries, concentrate biochemical substances within, and separate them from the chaos outside.
By mixing hydrogen, bicarbonate, and iron-rich magnetite in simulated ancient seawater, researchers from Newcastle University (UK) discovered they could create a range of organic molecules, including a group of long-chain fatty acids.
The study suggests that this form of long-chain fatty acid is a “strong candidate” for forming the earliest cell membranes on our planet.
“The origin of life may lie in the cell compartments themselves. They are crucial for isolating chemicals inside from the external environment,” stated Graham Purvis, the lead author of the study.
He believes these compartments acted as tools to promote life-sustaining reactions by concentrating chemicals and facilitating energy production. They may serve as the foundation for the first moments of life on Earth.
Among these, hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor are widely considered the setting for the emergence of life, due to the vital combination of heat and chemical components necessary for the formation of organisms.
Jon Telling, a biochemist at Newcastle University, also mentioned: “This research could provide the first step towards understanding how life originated on our planet.”
He added: “Laboratory studies are continuing to identify the second crucial step and shed more light on potential prototype cells – the ones that formed cellular life.“
In other words, the emergence of cell membranes was a significant event in Earth’s history. Although many questions remain unanswered, this recent research may have successfully recreated how life began on Earth.
