This episode is with William (Bill) Martin. 

He is the head of the institute of molecular evolution at the University of Düsseldorf.  With a career spanning over decades, he has made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology, particularly in the areas of evolution and symbiosis. Here we talk about the question of origin of life, importance of metabolism, prebiotic chemistry at hydrothermal vents, emergence of information, compartmentalization, and early evolution of cells.

Guest info:

Website: https://www.molevol.hhu.de/en/prof-dr-william-f-martin

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.de/citations?user=ms16utkAAAAJ&hl=en

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:51 Charles Darwin's idea of warm little pond 

00:04:19 Progress in the field of origin of life

00:13:46 Importance of energy for origin of life

00:20:40 Origin of life at the hydrothermal vents

00:30:45 Reaction of hydrogen and Carbon-DI-oxide at the hydrothermal vents 

00:36:40 Crucial transitions for origin of cellular life 

00:55:06 Emergence of information at hydrothermal vents

01:01:56 Importance of enzymes   

01:06:25 Link between information and compartmentalization 

01:08:24 Last Bacterial Common Ancestor (LBCA) and Last Archaeal Common Ancestor (LACA)

01:11:14 Importance of phase separation  

01:16:10 Origin of life as an engineering problem 

01:21:40 Life on exoplanets 

01:23:57 Thank you!