The Dirt That Refused to Die
4 hours ago
- #carbon cycling
- #prebiotic chemistry
- #soil metabolism
- Sébastien Fontaine's lab observed irradiated, sterile soil continuing to emit CO₂ for years, suggesting non-biological metabolic processes.
- Experiments indicated soil can catalyze reactions resembling the Krebs cycle, potentially without enzymes, using minerals like iron oxides.
- The findings challenge the idea that metabolism is exclusive to living cells, hinting at prebiotic origins of biochemical reactions.
- Some researchers propose metabolism predates life, with metals catalyzing reactions before enzymes and genes evolved.
- Alternative explanations include lingering enzymes from dead cells, though activity diminishes quickly and unlikely to persist for six years.
- The work underscores the difficulty in distinguishing biological from non-biological processes in familiar environments like soil.