Minerales, vida y evolución

Abstract

The origin of life is a complex scientific problem which requires a convergent approach from different branches of science, among them chemistry, biology, and the earth sciences. Regarding the latter, mineralogy and crystallography are of particular importance concerning this issue. The crystalographic approach helps us to elucidate the inner structure of both the inorganic and organic compounds that may have been involved in prebiotic processes. On the other hand, since several hypotheses for the origin of life involve the presence of minerals, the mineralogical approach is also of particular importance. This paper offers a review of the most outstanding ideas linking minerals to the prebiotic processes that led to the emergence of life on Earth. A whole section of this work is also devoted to the outstanding issue of chirality: why the molecules of life are either left-, or right-handed only? The paper finally reviews some of the most recent ideas relating chirality and crystal growth, and the role of mineral surfaces