title: Chemical evolution and the evolution of the earth's crust.
abstract: It is hypothesized that there is a close relationship between the geologic evolution of the global plates of the Earth's crust and the chemical evolution of life on the Earth. Characteristics of the axes of plate spreading are discussed in relation to postulated environments conductive to the synthesis of chemical compounds thought to be important biological precursors. Likely locations for in situ measurements to test the hypothesis are identified.
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D000069497:Origin of Life