Messy Chemistry

A classical approach towards the origins of life usually concentrates on studies of isolated reactions and pure chemical synthesis systems. It has been long noted that chemistry in prebiotically plausible scenarios, in fact, generates an intractable heterogeneous mixture of compounds. The appearance of tarry polymers was recorded in the Miller-Urey experiment, subsequently studied hydrogen cyanide (HCN) polymers, formaldehyde condensation. Steve Benner even referred to the formation of the tarry material as an insurmountable barrier towards the emergence of life. ELSI’s new initiative, “messy chemistry” represents a new approach towards the origin of life research that challenges Steve Benner’s assertion (with all due respect). Under the umbrella of the “messy chemistry,” we try to understand the role complex systems such as tar played in the origin of life. Aspects of messy research involve the study of the functionality of prebiotically plausible messy polymers, the development of better analytical methods suitable for messy chemistries, experimental and theoretical modeling of the processes occurring in complex chemical systems. The ultimate goal of the “messy chemistry” group is to understand the transition between messy, marginally controlled, prebiotic systems into well-orchestrated life-like chemical networks, or the origin of life.

What is messy chemistry?

Have you ever seen what a failed synthesis looks like? Or have you ever tried to set up an experiment mimicking prebiotic conditions? The result often results in a dark gooey "mess," an intractable complex mixture of chemical compounds. This is what chemical systems do in the absence of control in the form of enzymes or skilled chemists. These complex systems are not random and are in fact governed by non-apparent means of control and organization that we are trying to uncover. Moreover, we hypothesize that the chemical evolution of the organization mechanisms lead to the emergence of the familiarly controlled complex systems we call life.

When evolving life or writing a beautiful coherent piece of literature or music, a few messy stages are a must!

And here is much more eloquent explanation courtesy of Marc Kaufman :

Messy Chemistry, Evolving Rocks, and the Origin of Life

Messy Chemistry: A New Way to Approach the Origins of Life