title: Thermal energy and the origin of life.
abstract: Life has evolved on Earth with electromagnetic radiation (light), fermentable organic molecules, and oxidizable chemicals as sources of energy. Biological use of thermal energy has not been observed although heat, and the thermal gradients required to convert it into free energy, are ubiquitous and were even more abundant at the time of the origin of life on Earth. Nevertheless, Earth-organisms sense thermal energy, and in suitable environments may have gained the capability to use it as energy source. It has been proposed that the first organisms obtained their energy by a first protein named pF(1) that worked on a thermal variation of the binding change mechanism of today's ATP sythase enzyme. Organisms using thermosynthesis may still live where light or chemical energy sources are not available. Possible suitable examples are subsurface environments on Earth and in the outer Solar System, in particular the subsurface oceans of the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2812, USA.
authors.forename: Anthonie W J
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schulze-Makuch
mesh_terms: D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D000069497:Origin of Life
chemical_list: D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes