Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 44: Stochastic Dynamics of Growth Processes in Biological and Social Systems (accompanying session, joint DY/BP/SOE)

BP 44.2: Talk

Friday, April 4, 2014, 10:15–10:30, GÖR 226

Autocatalysis in a primordial broth — •Sabrina Scherer, Eva Wollrab, and Albrecht Ott — Biologische Experimentalphysik, Universität des Saarlandes

In many energetically driven systems non-linearities lead to pattern formation. Here we study the dynamics of a driven primordial broth, synthesized from a gas mixture of methane, ammonia and steam that is triggered by eletric discharge and heat. Using real-time mass spectrometry, we observe the generation of many hundreds of different molecules in a mass range from 50 to 1000 Dalton. The temporal course of the primordial broth reveals the spontaneous emergence and disappearance of several oligomeric groups that consist primarily of polyethylene glycol (PEG) surfactants. These oligomers appear in aperiodic oscillations. This requires stronger non-linearities than a simple autocatalytic reaction. PEG and -surfactants are well known phase-transfer catalysts, able to favour biochemical reactions by inhibiting hydrolysis. We suggest that autocatalytic phase-transfer leads to self-organizing processes in a primordial broth and enables the production of relevant biomolecules.