First molecules, biological chirality, origin(s) of life.
Origin(s) of biological chirality appear(s) to be intimately connected to origin(s) of life. Prebiotic evolution toward these important turning points can be traced back to single chiral molecules. These can be small (monomeric) units as amino acids or monosaccharides or oligomers as oligo-RNA type molecules. Earlier speculations about these two kinds of entries to biological chirality are critically reviewed.
Caglioti
Luciano
L
Department of Chemistry and Technology of Biologically Active Compounds, University La Sapienza-Roma, Roma, Italy. luciano.caglioti@uniroma1.it
Micskei
Károly
K
Pályi
Gyula
G
D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D008954:Models, Biological; D000069497:Origin of Life; D011336:Probability; D013237:Stereoisomerism