Formation of highly enantioenriched microenvironments by stochastic sorting of conglomerate crystals: A plausible mechanism for generation of enantioenrichment on the prebiotic earth

Abiotic generation of local areas of enantioenrichment is to be expected wh enever one deals with the 5-10% of organic solids that crystallize as congl omerates. Since an individual crystal of a conglomerate contains only a sin gle enantiomer, simple sorting processes involving winds, waves, or similar forces can act to deposit individual crystals into unique environments. Su bsequent dissolution may afford nearly enantiopure solutions. Therefore, in contrast to common perception, enantioenrichment is not a unique signature of living systems, it is simply evidence of a certain degree of chemical c omplexity. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.