Uncovering the Silent Architects of Chemical Reactions: A Look at Catalysts
In a new paper published in Nature, researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz, have identified a crucial role of a little-known chemical process in the evolution of life on Earth. Dubbed “silent architects”, the process is based on “non-enzymatic” chemical reactions, which occur outside of the cellular environment and have been largely overlooked. In this paper, the team has uncovered how these silent architects have been instrumental in the development of some of the most important molecules that form the basis of life, such as proteins and nucleic acids. This is a huge leap forward for science, as it helps to explain the origin of life on Earth and sheds light on how life may have evolved over time.
source: Phys.org