From RNA-peptide coevolution to cellular life at heated air bubbles

The origin of life on Earth is one of humanity's profound mysteries that lacks scientific answers.

We aim to answer this fundamental question by performing pioneering experiments starting from the Darwinian evolution of RNA and peptides to the emergence of cellular life, all in a single environment with only a small selection of starting molecules.

We are an interdisciplinary team with diverse backgrounds in chemistry, physics, and biochemistry, and we have a proven track record of strong interdisciplinary collaborations.Preliminary experiments have revealed the remarkable potential of heat-exposed air bubbles for molecular evolution.

BubbleLife connects long evolutionary timescales through targeted experiments, bridging from amino acids and nucleotides to the emergence of protocellular life in one unified environment.

Our experimental studies indicate a chemical cooperation of amino acids, nucleoside monophosphates and lipids, driving their Darwinian co-evolution towards modern biochemistry.

The non-equilibrium at heated air bubbles promotes RNA oligomerization and template-directed ligation, fostering the emergence of autocatalytic replication networks, including the first RNA catalysts (ribozymes). Co-accumulating lipids form membrane vesicles at heated air-water interfaces that autonomously encapsulate RNA.

Driven by prebiotic phosphorylation, amino acids polymerize into peptides in the same alkaline environment. Subsequently, they form RNA-peptide hybrids, revealing intriguing modes of early proto-translation.

By combining our unique expertises in a synergistic manner, our work will ultimately culminate in ""protocell generators"" that feed and encapsulate not only primitive RNA-based replicators, but also modern transcription-translation-based systems.BubbleLife will reshape our understanding of the origin of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere in the universe.