Chemical evolution is supposed to have preceded Darwinian evolution on early Earth. In order to model this process, liposomes with different membrane compositions were paired against each other tested for stability, in this cases using dialysis.  For the purpose of this study, we chose to define a stable membrane as not crossing the dialysis membrane of the equilibrium chamber. After dialysis, each lipid sample was extracted with hexane, esterified with an aromatic moiety and then analyzed using the HPLC. For example, when decanoic acid was paired against DOPC in an equilibrium dialysis for 72 hours, the decanoic acid was completely absorbed by the DOPC, meaning the DOPC is stable, while the decanoic acid was not. Environment and composition can be varied to find more stable membranes. Once the model is set up, it will allow us to explore how organisms evolved in the beginning of life, before there were the complex mechanisms we see today.<br/>

Evolution of membrane stability in the origins of life

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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