THE ORIGINS OF LIFE - WHAT ONE NEEDS TO KNOW (REPRINTED)

Many solar systems in the universe may be expected to contain rocky pl anets that have accreted organic compounds. These compounds are likely to be universally found. In addition, the chemistry of sulfur, phosph orous, and iron is likely to dominate energy transductions and monomer activation, leading to the eventual emergence of polymers. Proteins a nd polynucleotides provide living matter with function, structure, and information. The conceptual puzzle regarding their emergence is discu ssed. The fitness of various elements to serve various roles is analyz ed from the viewpoint of electron orbitals. Elements with d orbitals a re of central importance.