I have not read it completely but someone is doing a lot of work trying to
synthesize some of the data, research etc.
The thermosynthesis model shows a few modifications of their energy
conversion machinery could permit organisms to use use heat
as an energy source during thermal cycling. They could therefore easily
function as heat engines. The mechanism is especially suited
for the first living organisms which supposedly lived in convecting hot
volcanic springs.
The postulated mechanisms resemble the contemporary binding change
mechanism of phosphorylating enzymes and stoichiometry
changes of membrane-bound ion pumping enzymes. The theory:
shows how biological heat engines could be constructed using
components of contemporary organisms;
proposes a new, drastically simplified model for the origin of life;
identifies the first enzyme, ATPsynthase (or maybe Ca2+ -ATPase?);
identifies the inanimate self-organized dissipative structure
pertinent to the origin of life, convection;
gives a stepwise model for the order of acquisition during evolution
of the components of bacterial photosynthesis: (1)
ATPsynthase, (2) membrane lipids, (3) photosynthetic reaction
centers, (4) quinones; the power generating mechanisms are
(1) protein-associated thermosynthesis, (2)
membrane-associated-thermosynthesis, (3) photosystem 0, (4) bacterial
photosynthesis;
sheds a new light on the early evolution of enzymes, entropy changes
in bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers, 'inactive'
photosynthetic reaction centers, state 1-state 2 transitions in
chloroplasts, vertical migrations of organisms in thermoclines, the
protoplasm stream in palissade cells that span leaves, heat shock
proteins, and regulation by Ca2+ and phosphorylation;
sheds a new light on many experiments and many observations in the
field.
Anthonie W.J. Muller
Department of Biochemistry
University of Edinburgh
Hugh Robson Building
George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland,
UK
Copyright ® 1997 Anthonie W.J. Muller - All
rights reserved