How A Rock At The Bottom Of The Sea May Have Started Life On Earth
ByWilliam A. Haseltine,Contributor. William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., covers genomics and regenerative medicine
Aug 24, 2026, 10:27am EDT
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Summary
New research suggests deep-sea vent metals initiated life’s chemistry, predating enzymes. Early cells inherited incomplete metabolic reactions, completing them with help from metals like nickel, iron, and cobalt found in serpentinite vents. These metals acted as catalysts, performing functions now handled by enzymes, such as converting carbon dioxide. The study explains how bacteria and archaea, though sharing a common ancestor (LUCA), evolved different enzymatic solutions for core metabolic processes, indicating metabolism was still developing post-LUCA. Phosphite, also found in vents, may have provided energy before ATP. This highlights deep-sea vents as crucial “chemical grandparents” for life’s origins.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2026/08/24/how-a-rock-at-the-bottom-of-the-sea-may-have-started-life-on-earth/
