The Reactions Involved in the Formation 



of Compounds PreUminary to the Synthesis 



of Protoplasm and other Materials of 



Biological Importance 



K. BAHADUR 



Chemistry Department, Allahabad University, India 



The problem of the origin of life on Earth has always been a challenge to the 

 thinking man. The ancient sages of India held that life originated in water. 

 Recent scientific investigations are leading us to the same conclusion. 



It is well known that light plays a prominent role in the synthesis of a number 

 of compounds, some of which are of great biological interest [i]. In our labora- 

 tories, we have observed that, if, under steriHzed condition; a mixture of para- 

 formaldehyde, potassium nitrate, ferric chloride and water is exposed to artificial 

 light from a 500 watt electric bulb, a number of amino acids are synthesized in 

 the mixture [2]. It has been found that hydrogen ion concentration of the mix- 

 ture has a great influence on the nature of the amino acids formed. Depending 

 upon the pH value of the mixture and the period of exposure different amino 

 acids are found to be present in the mixture; and what is more interesting a 

 number of the amino acids in the beginning disappear and new ones are formed 

 [3]. A number of photodynamic catalysts as fuchsine red etc. [4] have been 

 observed to help in this synthesis. 



These experiments lead us to conclude that free radicals are formed in the 

 mixture owing to the effect of light from paraformaldehyde. The free radicals 

 combine with the nitrogen from potassium nitrate giving rise to compounds 

 which finally attain a comparatively stable state at amino acid stage. 



It has been observed by us that if a mixture of paraformaldehyde, colloidal 

 molybdenum oxide and water under sterilized conditions is exposed to artificial 

 electric light from a 500 watts bulb, then too, a number of amino acids are 

 synthesized in the mixture. This finding is of very great importance. It proves 

 that for the synthesis of amino acids in addition to light only water, a carbon 

 source and atmospheric nitrogen are essential. This can only be possible if light 

 helps in the formation of certain free radicals which help in the subsequent 

 synthesis of amino acids. 



This startling discovery unfolds a new approach to study the origin of life. 

 Taking the preliminary conditions in the era before the beginning of life we know 

 that there was a vast expanse of water, plenty of carbon dioxide and numerous 

 minerals to act as catalysts, and the sun shining intermittently to initiate the 

 reactions involving the formation of amino acids. These reactions had been 



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