Mineral guided molecular enrichment: An interfacial driving force for protocell emergence on early Earth
Weifeng Chen, Rongfeng Zheng, Zhaosen Luo, Guoquan Wu, Jiayu Lei, Haochun Gou, Hao Li, Zhili Wang, Wenxuan Xiao, Chunhui Li, Guozhi Yu
This study shows that mineral surfaces can facilitate the formation of protocell-like assemblies by co-adsorbing and organizing biomolecules, supporting metabolic activity and compartment formation.
bioRxiv · Nov 12, 2025 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology