Alexandr I. Oparin and the Origin of Life: A Historical Reassessment of the Heterotrophic Theory
Por:
Lazcano, Antonio
Publicada:
1 dic 2016
Resumen:
The heterotrophic origin of life proposed by A. I. Oparin in the 1920s
was part of a Darwinian framework that assumed that living organisms
were the historical outcome of a gradual transformation of lifeless
matter. Eighty years ago, he presented a much more detailed scheme of
the processes that may have led to life. As argued here, the development
of the heterotrophic theory has been shaped by an entangled scenario in
which a number of technical and scientific developments concur, as well
as non-scientific issues including the Stalinist period and the tensions
of the Cold War atmosphere. What has been largely ignored until now is
the key role played by Haeckel's ideas in shaping Oparin's theory. The
heterotrophic theory has been erroneously described as a
metabolism-first hypothesis in which genetic material was not included
due to ideological pressures of the Soviet government. As shown here,
both characterizations are mistaken. The development of Oparin's views
and the ensuing debates cannot be understood without considering the
confrontation between Mendelism and Darwinism during the first three
decades of the past century, combined with the doubts surrounding the
existence of genes.
Filiaciones:
Lazcano, Antonio:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ciencias, Colegio Nacl, Apdo Postal 70-407, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
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