JERUSALEM, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have found that simple molecules may have worked together on early Earth to create more stable structures that helped set the stage for life, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement on Monday.
The findings provide new clues about one of science's biggest questions: how life began.
In the new study, published in Nature Communications, the researchers showed that two types of simple molecules, fatty acids and hydroxy acids, can combine to form stronger and more stable structures than either one can create alone.
Fatty acids are considered possible building blocks of early cell membranes, while hydroxy acids can form short chains of molecules.
The study found that when the two were linked together, they formed tiny cell-like compartments that were more stable and could survive longer in water.
The researchers said this cooperation between molecules may have helped early chemical systems become more organized and eventually develop into the first living cells.
The findings could also inspire the development of new environmentally friendly materials, as the molecules studied are simple, biodegradable, and produced through low-impact processes, according to the statement. ■
