Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T13:44:38.984Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Origin of homochirality in biological systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2005

S. Toxvaerd
S. Toxvaerd
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, H. C. Ørsted Institute, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark e-mail: tox@st.ki.ku.dk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Models for segregation of racemic mixtures of chiral amphiphiles and lipophiles in aqueous solutions show that the amphiphiles with active isomerization kinetics can perform a spontaneous symmetry break during the segregation and self-assemble to homochiral matter. Based on physico-chemical facts, it is argued that D-glyceraldehyde, which was synthesized from the volatiles at the hydrothermal reactors at the origin of life, could be the origin of homochirality in biological systems.

Keywords

D-glyceraldehydehomochiralityorigin of life
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , January 2005 , pp. 43 - 48
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)