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Life Explained by Heat Engines

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Genesis - In The Beginning

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 22))

Abstract

Mitochondria are in essence fuel cells that use organics as reductant and oxygen as oxidant. In engineering, increasing attention is being given to the replacement of the internal combustion engine by the fuel cell. According to the Thermosynthesis theory, a similar replacement of heat engines by fuel cells has occurred in biological systems in the distant past. Moreover, the early progenitors of biosystems such as (1) ATP Synthase; (2) biomembranes; (3) bacterial flagella, muscle, and collagen; and (4) the nerve have as engineering counterparts (1) heat engines that work on thermal desorption, (2) electrical capacitors containing a dielectric with a temperature-dependent polarization, (3) polymers such as rubber that contract as a result of a temperature increase, and (4) thermocouples. These biological progenitors ran by convection in volcanic hot springs or by oscillation in the thermal gradient above submarine hydrothermal vents.

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Acknowledgments

Wolter Kaper, Steph Menken, and Roel van Driel are thanked for their comments on the manuscript; Kevin Crosby is thanked for extensive proofreading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1098XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Anthonie W. J. Muller

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  1. Anthonie W. J. Muller
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Correspondence to Anthonie W. J. Muller .

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  1. University of Jerusalem, Mevo Hadas 20, Efrat, 90435, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Muller, A.W.J. (2012). Life Explained by Heat Engines. In: Seckbach, J. (eds) Genesis - In The Beginning. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2941-4_19

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