Abstract
The lack of evidence from terrestrial environments supporting the chemical evolution model has resulted in scientists looking elsewhere in the Solar System and in space for evidence. We have suggested that the Atlantis II Deep brine (21°22′N by 38°05′E) located in a submarine rift at the bottom of the Red Sea is a promising environment possibly containing terrestrial evidence for chemical evolution1. We have also reported finding a thiocyanate concentration of 2.4×10−5 M in the Atlantis II Deep brine2. We report here the discovery of an unusually large concentration of glycine in the Atlantis II Deep brine and virtually no other dissolved free amino acids. We further suggest four possible explanations for the unique amino acid composition of Red Sea brine. Our methods of location, sampling and storage of the brines have been discussed elsewhere2.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ingmanson, D. E. & Dowler, M. J. Origins of Life 8, 221–224 (1977).
Dowler, M. J. & Ingmanson, D. E. Nature 279, 51–52 (1979).
Moore, S. & Stein, W. H. J. biol. Chem. 192, 663–681 (1952).
Siegel, A. & Degens, E. T. Science 151, 1098–1101 (1966).
Clark, M. E., Jackson, G. A. & North, W. J. Limnol. Oceanogr. 17, 749–757 (1972).
Lee, C. & Bada, J. L. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 26, 61–68 (1975).
Watson, S. W. & Waterbury, J. B. in Hot Brines and Recent Heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea, 272–281 (eds Degens, E. T. & Ross, D. A.) (Springer, New York, 1969).
Degens, E. T. & Matheja, J. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc. 21, 52–82 (1968).
Degens, E. T., Matheja, J. & Jackson, T. A. Nature 227, 492 (1970).
Staff. Sea Technol. 67 (1979).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ingmanson, D., Dowler, M. Unique amino acid composition of Red Sea brine. Nature 286, 51–52 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/286051a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/286051a0
This article is cited by
-
Origin of life
Nature (1989)
-
Formation of amino acids, peptide-like polymers, and microspheres in superheated hydrothermal environments
Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere (1989)
-
Submarine hot springs and the origin of life
Nature (1988)
-
New evidence for a tubular structure ofβ-iron(III) oxide hydroxide — akaganéite
Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere (1985)
-
The structure of ?-FeOOH�Cln (akaganeite) and its uptake of amino acids
Origins of Life (1984)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
