“There is no agreement on the extent to which metabolism could develop independently of a genetic material. In my opinion, there is no basis in known chemistry for the belief that long sequences of reactions can organize spontaneously -- and every reason to believe that they cannot. The problem of achieving sufficient specificity, whether in aqueous solution or on the surface of a mineral, is so severe that the chance of closing a cycle of reactions as complex as the reverse citric acid cycle, for example, is negligible.”
Quote by Leslie Orgel
Author
Leslie Orgel
Leslie Orgel was a British biochemist recognized for his research in molecular evolution. Born on January 12, 1927, and passing away on October 27, 2007, Orgel's contributions to the study of the origin of life and the genetic code have greatly influenced molecular biology. more