Research

I am interested in understanding under which conditions certain chemistry transitions into a living system. I’ve focused on the non-enzymatic synthesis of sugars (necessary for the synthesis of nucleotides), on studying the synthesis and properties of P-bearing organics, and on the interactions (positive and negative) between these pathways. Moving away from synthesis, I am fascinated by prebiotic coupling systems which allow for non-spontaneous processes to occur by linking them to spontaneous ones. These systems are crucial to modern (and ancient) life, and we have all the reasons to think they had an important role in its emergence.

Hydrothermal systems are very prevalent on Earth and other silicate-rich planetary bodies. Rock-water interactions generate a reactivity landscape replete with simple inorganics and ample free energy. I built a high-pressure microfluidics reactor which lets us simulate these out-of-equilibrium settings with precision in the lab. We often use minerals as catalysts drawing inspiration from the plethora of metallic cofactors prevalent in biology. We can either prepare thin mineral sheets under controlled conditions before an experiment or allow for their spontaneous precipitation during its course.

Being able to study extraterrestrial life would be immeasurably useful for us to understand life beyond the contingencies of life on Earth. Deciding which celestial bodies should be prioritised for this endeavour is always contentious however. I want to know which extraterrestrial chemicals are indicative of an alien biosphere (i.e. are biosignatures). I am interested in profiling the geochemistry of planetary bodies beyond Earth, particularly that of Ocean Worlds where hydrothermal systems are widespread. What are the origins of the organics we detect at the surface of Ocean Worlds: Do they derive from an alien biosphere? Or do they reflect simpler geochemistry, and if so is it all hydrothermally synthesized deep in the oceans, or it is derived from delivered meteoritic material?

Information polymers (RNA, DNA) serve as information repositories in modern and ancient cells. It’s possible this wasn’t the case during the early steps in the transition from geo- to biochemistry. Composomes are molecular assemblies whose composition is information. Vesicles are made of amphiphilic molecules and could have operated as composomes, with their constituent parts governing their stability and fitness (capability to replicate). Whether vesicles display significant enough levels of heredity between subsequent reproductive cycles will determine whether such composomes are capable of evolution. It’s likely the key lies in understanding the interaction between the biophysics of vesicle replication and the dynamics of autocatalytic networks producing vesicle monomers. I’m starting to work on these questions. Ideas and critiques are welcomed!