Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

198 | Nick Lane on Powering Biology

May 23, 2022

Nick Lane, a renowned British biochemist and professor at University College London, dives into the mysteries surrounding the origin of life. He discusses the pivotal role of the Krebs cycle, not just in energy production but also in understanding life's beginnings. Lane explores how metabolic processes may predate genetics, linking energy flow to the emergence of life. Intriguingly, he connects these concepts to contemporary health issues like cancer, emphasizing the profound implications of energy and chemistry in the evolution of living organisms.

01:25:29

Episode guests

Nick Lane

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Proto cells can form membranes that allow for autotrophic growth from inorganic gases and potential structure formation.

RNA in autotrophic protocells can template peptides and enhance proton transport, leading to the development of more complex functions.

The Krebs cycle is responsible for amino acid production, playing a crucial role in various biological processes and contributing to the evolution of larger, more complex eukaryotic cells through endosymbiosis.

Deep dives

Autotrophic protocells driven by inorganic gradients

Proto cells can form membranes made of fatty acids and iron-sulfur clusters bound by cysteine, allowing for the segregation of different phases and the potential for autotrophic growth from inorganic gases.

Intro

2min

Exploring Energy's Role in Life Through the Krebs Cycle

3min

Metabolism and the Origins of Life

15min

The Intersection of Energy Flow and Biological Cycles

5min

Hydrogen, CO2, and Life's Chemistry

11min

Exploring the Foundations of Life Through Chemical Reactions

4min

Origins of Life: Complexity and Chemistry

19min

Exploring Primitive Chemical Reactions and Metabolic Pathways

4min

Origins of Life and the Role of RNA

18min

10.

Unraveling the Krebs Cycle

10min

The origin of life here on Earth was an important and fascinating event, but it was also a long time ago and hasn’t left many pieces of direct evidence concerning what actually happened. One set of clues we have comes from processes in current living organisms, especially those processes that seem extremely common. The Krebs cycle, the sequence of reactions that functions as a pathway for energy distribution in aerobic organisms, is such an example. I talk with biochemist about the importance of the Krebs cycle to contemporary biology, as well as its possible significance in understanding the origin of life.

Support Mindscape on Patreon.

Nick Lane received his PhD from the Royal Free Hospital Medical School. He is currently a professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry at University College London. He was a founding member of the UCL Consortium for Mitochondrial Research, and is Co-Director of the UCL Centre for Life’s Origin and Evolution. He was awarded the 2009 UCL Provost’s Venture Research Prize, the 2011 BMC Research Award for Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics and Evolution, the 2015 Biochemical Society Award, and the 2016 Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture. His new book is Transformer: The Deep Chemistry of Life and Death.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

198 | Nick Lane on Powering Biology

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Autotrophic protocells driven by inorganic gradients

Integration of RNA into autotrophic protocells

Transition to RNA world

Potential for genetic code emergence

The Krebs cycle's role in making amino acids

The significance of mitochondria and the complex origin of eukaryotic cells

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts