This is the "salt formula" needed for the origin of life

In modern organisms, the genetic material DNA encodes the instructions to synthesize proteins, which are multifunctional nanomachines that enable modern cells to operate and replicate

In order to fold correctly, RNA requires a relatively high concentration of doubly charged magnesium ions and a minimum concentration of singly charged sodium, because the latter can cause misfolding of the RNA strands

Basalt glass and heat flow

For this reason, LMU geoscientists led by Donald Dingwell and Bettina Scheu synthesized basalt glass for the first time, and divided the various forms of basalt into two types: rock and glass

"However, when heat flow is added, this situation changes considerably-due to the high level of geological activity expected in the environment before life is formed, heat flow is likely to already exist," Mast said

Using the catalytic RNA strand provided by Hannes Mutschler (MPI for Biochemistry/TU Dortmund) as a benchmark system, the team continued to prove that the ligation of RNA strands and the self-replication of ribozymes are more effective under thermoelectrophoresis conditions

Journal

Nature Chemistry

Article Title

Heat flows in rock cracks naturally optimize salt compositions for ribozymes