Abstract_EANA2025-29

Abstract EANA2025-29

Pseudofossils and Autocatalysis

Understanding the emergence of life on early Earth by exploring the chemical pathways that transformed simple molecules into complex, self-sustaining systems

Fruzsina Madzig (1), Henderson Cleaves II (1,2,3,4)

1)Howard University, Washington, USA 2)Carnegie Institute of Science, Washington, USA 3)Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, USA 4)Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo, Japan

Our research focuses on the potential role of Maillard reaction intermediates—compounds typically formed in non-enzymatic reactions between amino acids and sugars—in prebiotic chemistry. Intermediates of these reaction cycles form diverse structures both in the chemical and morphological sense. Intermediate products of the Maillard reaction may aggregate in aqueous solution to form novel phase-bounded structures. These are often cell-sized and -shaped and thus may be “pseudofossils.”

We aim to elucidate how these reactions can be triggered under different early Earth conditions and how these intermediates might self-organize into autocatalytic networks. Autocatalysis is hypothesized to be a critical feature in the origin of life, enabling molecular systems to undergo self-replication and evolution. By simulating early Earth conditions—including energy sources, molecular availability, and environmental parameters—we investigate the plausibility of these chemical processes contributing to the emergence of life. Our findings aim to provide insights into the chemical evolution that preceded biological systems and how to differentiate pseudofossils from actual indications of biotic processes, not only on earth but also during future space missions as well.