A2.1.5 Spontaneous formation of vesicles by coalescence of fatty acids into spherical bilayers

What 2 key processes could occur within vesicles?

Polymer formation

Replication of genetic material.

How did fatty acids contribute to the origin of life?

Fatty acids could spontaneously assemble into bilayers, forming vesicles that compartmentalized chemical reactions.

What is the significance of compartmentalization in the context of early life?

Compartmentalization created distinct internal environments, allowing for regulated interactions and efficient chemical reactions.

What role did catalysts play in vesicles?

Catalysts, such as metal ions or primitive enzymes, enhanced reaction rates within vesicles, facilitating the formation of complex molecules.

How did vesicle membranes contribute to energy storage?

Vesicle membranes allowed the creation of ion gradients, where differences in ion concentration stored energy.

Why is the ability to self-replicate important for early molecules?

Self-replication within vesicles ensured the continuity of information and the potential for evolution.

What was the role of natural selection in the transition from protocells to living cells?

Natural selection led to the development of sophisticated membranes, metabolic pathways, and the evolution of protocells into the first living cells.

Why is a membrane compared to a fortress wall?

A membrane protects the internal environment while allowing controlled exchange of resources, maintaining order and function.

What was a key difference between early vesicles and modern cell membranes?

Early vesicles lacked embedded proteins and sophisticated transport mechanisms.

How did the formation of a membrane-bound compartment enable life?

It allowed internal chemistry to become distinct from the external environment, enabling controlled interactions and energy storage.

Why is the hydrophobic core of a bilayer important?

It limits the movement of polar molecules, maintaining a distinct internal chemistry.

What happens to fatty acids in water under the right conditions?

They can spontaneously form vesicles, which can grow and divide, mimicking living cells.

What is a protocell?

A protocell is a simple, cell-like structure that is a precursor to modern cells.

What role did ion gradients play in early vesicles?

Ion gradients across vesicle membranes stored energy that could drive reactions necessary for life.

What conditions inside vesicles supported polymer formation?

The compartmentalization and regulation of organic molecules increased the likelihood of interactions and chemical reactions.

How did early vesicles regulate the molecules inside them?

By enclosing and concentrating organic molecules, vesicles could create a controlled internal environment.

What is the significance of the emergence of membranes in the origin of life?

It allowed for distinct internal environments, controlled interactions, and the potential for complex biochemical processes.