A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life
School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30032, USA
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Academic Editor: Michael Henson
Processes 2015, 3(2), 309-338; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr3020309
Received: 29 January 2015 / Revised: 18 April 2015 / Accepted: 19 April 2015 / Published: 5 May 2015
Atoms and molecules assemble into materials, with the material structure determining the properties and ultimate function. Human-made materials and systems have achieved great complexity, such as the integrated circuit and the modern airplane. However, they still do not rival the adaptivity and robustness of biological systems. Understanding the reaction and assembly of molecules on the early Earth is a scientific grand challenge, and also can elucidate the design principles underlying biological materials and systems. This research requires understanding of chemical reactions, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, optimization, and control. Thus, the discipline of chemical engineering can play a central role in advancing the field. In this paper, an overview of research in the origins field is given, with particular emphasis on the origin of biopolymers and the role of chemical engineering phenomena. A case study is presented to highlight the importance of the environment and its coupling to the chemistry.
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Keywords:
origins of life; complex system; evolution
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MDPI and ACS Style
Grover, M.A.; He, C.Y.; Hsieh, M.-C.; Yu, S.-S. A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life. Processes 2015, 3, 309-338. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr3020309
AMA Style
Grover MA, He CY, Hsieh M-C, Yu S-S. A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life. Processes. 2015; 3(2):309-338. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr3020309
Chicago/Turabian StyleGrover, Martha A.; He, Christine Y.; Hsieh, Ming-Chien; Yu, Sheng-Sheng. 2015. "A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life" Processes 3, no. 2: 309-338. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr3020309
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