title: The hyperthermophilic origin of life revisited.
abstract: We revisit the case for the hyperthermophilic scenario for the origin of life and the last common ancestor. Evidence includes studies of phylogenetic trees, rRNA, G and C content, hyperthermophilic proteins, correlations between maximal temperature tolerances and genetic distances, saline stabilization of DNA/RNA, and the inferred climatic temperatures of the early Earth. Although some doubts remain, the case for hot biogenesis and the last common ancestor has gotten stronger.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington DC 20059, U.S.A. dws@scs.howard.edu
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Schwartzman
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lineweaver
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D003562:Cytidine / Q000737:chemistry; D018534:Earth, Planet; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D019419:Evolution, Planetary; D006151:Guanosine / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D019369:Life; D000069497:Origin of Life; D010802:Phylogeny; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D006151:Guanosine; D003562:Cytidine