The Origin of Life: From Precursor Conditions to the Emergence of the First Forms of Life

In this conference, we will tackle one of the most fascinating and fundamental topics in science: the origin of life on Earth. We will have the participation of two renowned experts who will guide us through an exciting journey, from the initial conditions that favored the formation of the first organic molecules to the transition to the first life-like structures.

Dr. Juan Manuel García-Ruiz, Ikerbasque Professor at the Donostia International Physics Center and Research Professor at the CSIC, currently leads the ERC-Synergy project “The role of silica in the dawn of life on our Planet.” In his presentation, García-Ruiz will focus on the “barren Earth” and the crucial role of minerals in the heterogeneous catalysis of prebiotic chemistry. He will explore the transition towards the first life-like structures and the most probable geochemical niches for this transition, which he calls “protoworlds.” Additionally, he will discuss mineral self-organization and the processes that may have led to the detection of primitive life. His approach will offer an updated and authoritative perspective on how minerals might have catalyzed the fundamental chemical reactions for the emergence of life.

Dr. Juli Peretó Magraner, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio, University of Valencia-CSIC), will complement the lecture by addressing the chemical and functional aspects of life. Peretó will delve into the prebiotic phases and early evolution of life, describing how the first precursor molecules could have assembled into increasingly complex structures, culminating in the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA). He will discuss the chemical and functional characteristics of life and the processes that may have led to the assembly of the first living cells. This approach, combined with García-Ruiz’s perspective, will provide a multidisciplinary view of the origin of life on Earth—and perhaps, on Mars as well.

By the end of the conference, attendees will have gained a comprehensive and multidisciplinary understanding of the origin of life, from the initial conditions that allowed the formation of the first organic molecules to the emergence of the first life-like structures. This presentation will offer an in-depth and updated look at the latest research in the field and open a space for reflection and debate on one of the great mysteries of science.

Speakers:

Dr. Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
Ikerbasque Professor at the Donostia International Physics Center and Research Professor at the CSIC. Leader of the ERC-Synergy project “The role of silica in the dawn of life on our Planet.”

Dr. Juli Peretó Magraner
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio, University of Valencia-CSIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia.