From Abiotic Chemistry to Protocells: A Comparative Review of Origin-of-Life Theories

作者：Noushin Nabavi · 发表于：Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.5281/zenodo.20755199 · 研究领域：Origins and Evolution of Life、Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution、Cancer and biochemical research

From Abiotic Chemistry to Protocells is an open Bookdown-based scientific review of major origin-of-life theories. The project examines how non-living chemistry may have transitioned into the first self-organizing biological systems and compares competing explanations for the emergence of life. The book synthesizes concepts from chemistry, biology, geology, planetary science, astrobiology, and systems theory to evaluate major hypotheses of abiogenesis. Topics include primordial soup theory, the RNA world hypothesis, metabolism-first models, lipid world and protocell theories, hydrothermal vent and warm pond models, clay mineral hypotheses, protein-first theories, panspermia, and future directions in origin-of-life research. Rather than advocating for a single explanation, the project uses a comparative framework to examine how different theories address key transitions, including abiotic synthesis of organic molecules, self-organization, replication and heredity, metabolism and energy transfer, membrane formation, protocell development, environmental plausibility, experimental reproducibility, and unresolved scientific uncertainties. This Zenodo archive preserves the rendered book and/or the source files needed to reproduce the Bookdown project. The material is intended for students, instructors, researchers, and readers interested in abiogenesis, early Earth chemistry, systems biology, and astrobiology.