title: The origin of life--a review of facts and speculations.
abstract: Three popular hypotheses attempt to explain the origin of prebiotic molecules: synthesis in a reducing atmosphere, input in meteorites and synthesis on metal sulfides in deep-sea vents. It is not possible to decide which is correct. It is also unclear whether the RNA world was the first biological world or whether some simpler world preceded it.
authors.affiliation: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. orgel@salk.edu
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Orgel
mesh_terms: D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D007501:Iron; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D000069497:Origin of Life; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D012313:RNA
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D012313:RNA; D007501:Iron