The Role of Calcium and Strontium as the Most Dominant Elements during Combinations of Different Alkaline Earth Metals in the Synthesis of Crystalline Silica-Carbonate Biomorphs

Abstract

The origin of life from the chemical point of view is an intriguing and fascinating topic, and is of continuous interest. Currently, the chemical elements that are part of the different cellular types from microorganisms to higher organisms have been described. However, although science has advanced in this context, it has not been elucidated yet which were the first chemical elements that gave origin to the first primitive cells, nor how evolution eliminated or incorporated other chemical elements to give origin to other types of cells through evolution. Calcium, barium, and strontium silica-carbonates have been obtained in vitro and named biomorphs, because they mimic living organism structures. Therefore, it is considered that these forms can resemble the first structures that were part of primitive organisms. Hence, the objective of this work was to synthesize biomorphs starting with different mixtures of alkaline earth metals—beryllium (Be2+), magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca2+), barium (Ba2+), and strontium (Sr2+)—in the presence of nucleic acids, RNA and genomic DNA (gDNA). Our results allow us to infer that the stability of calcium followed by strontium had played an important role in the evolution of life since the Precambrian era until our current age. In this way, the presence of these two chemical elements as well as silica (in the primitive life) and some organic molecules give origin to a great variety of life forms, in which calcium is the most common dominating element in many living organisms as we know nowadays.

Silica-Carbonate of Ba(II) and Fe2+/Fe3+ Complex as Study Models to Understand Prebiotic Chemistry

“…The spherulitic morphology in biomorphs has been found in other synthesis conditions. 24 , 25 Although this morphology could be reminiscient of the morphology of the first bacteria, at a high CO 2 concentration, the morphologies that resemble life forms would not be possible. This event suggests that the presence of O 2 in the first photosynthetic bacteria and in the photolysis of CO 2 modified the environmental atmosphere and favored the synthesis of other morphologies that, in conjunction, gave rise to the diverse chemical structures constituting the terrestrial organisms.…”

“… 28 , 29 Another characteristic of these compounds is that the adopted morphology could go from emulating organisms to a spherical morphology or no morphology at all. 24 , 25 Due to these unique characteristics, the silica-carbonate compounds are a good study model to evaluate the different morphologies that could have been adopted by the first organisms in the primitive era of the Earth. Aiming to understand how iron participated in the formation of the first chemical structures of the primitive organisms, we assessed how iron contributes to the morphology and chemical–crystalline structure during the synthesis of these biomorphs in different conditions prevailing in the primitive atmosphere.…”

Synthesis of Crystalline Silica–Carbonate Biomorphs of Ba(II) under the Presence of RNA and Positively and Negatively Charged ITO Electrodes: Obtainment of Graphite via Bioreduction of CO2 and Its Implications to the Chemical Origin of Life on Primitive Earth

“…Biomorphs in the Presence of RNA and a Positive Electric Current influencing Their Crystal Structure. To assess the influence exerted by the electric current in silica− carbonate compounds, we used biomorphs as a model because they are silica−carbonate compounds whose chemical composition has been widely reported as well as their crystalline structure under different conditions, 13,14 except for the influence of an electric current. The obtained results will somehow emulate the electric current existing on Earth and will, therefore, allow us to know whether the electric current influences the morphology of inorganic and organic compounds, including living beings.…”

“…This barium polymorph is commonly found in barium biomorphs. 13,14 The third analyzed zone was that showing brilliant needles, which analyzed through Raman showed peaks at 11, 110−115, 233, and 482−486 cm −1 , corresponding to SiO 2 (Figure 9e). This material does not correspond to a biomorph, although it is a crystalline system, it does not have all the properties inherent to the barium silica− carbonate compounds.…”

“…These organisms are considered to represent the past and present of our planet. In the second place, they are a good model of study to analyze the participation of the electric current, as they are silica–carbonate compounds whose chemical composition has been widely reported, as well as their crystalline structure in different conditions, − except under the influence of an electric current. Finally, in the third place, growing crystals of the polymorph in the presence of an electric current (dc/ac) is a novel method that can be used in any type of crystal growth.…”