Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan
Biophysics research tends to focus on utilizing multidisciplinary technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations to study biological phenomena through the lens of chemistry and physics. Although most current biophysics work is focused on studying extant biology, the fact remains that modern biolo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Challenges |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/10/1/28 |
| _version_ | 1818234388877410304 |
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| author | Tony Z. Jia Yutetsu Kuruma |
| author_facet | Tony Z. Jia Yutetsu Kuruma |
| author_sort | Tony Z. Jia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biophysics research tends to focus on utilizing multidisciplinary technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations to study biological phenomena through the lens of chemistry and physics. Although most current biophysics work is focused on studying extant biology, the fact remains that modern biological systems at some point were descended from a universal common ancestor. At the core of modern biology is the important question of how the earliest life on (or off) Earth emerged. Recent technological and methodological advances developed by biophysicists in Japan have allowed researchers to gain a new suite of knowledge related to the origins of life (OoL). Using these reports as inspiration, here, we highlight some of the significant OoL advances contributed by members of the biophysical research field in Japan with respect to the synthesis and assembly of biological (or pre-biological) components on early Earth, the co-assembly of primitive compartments with biopolymer systems, and the evolution of early genetic systems. We hope to provide inspiration to other biophysicists to not only use the always-advancing suite of available multidisciplinary technologies to continue their own line of work, but to also consider how their work or techniques can contribute to the ever-growing field of OoL research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:37:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd4158825147411fb3b4676eab2f1624 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-1547 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:37:17Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Challenges |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd4158825147411fb3b4676eab2f16242022-12-22T00:25:38ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472019-04-011012810.3390/challe10010028challe10010028Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in JapanTony Z. Jia0Yutetsu Kuruma1Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, JapanEarth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, JapanBiophysics research tends to focus on utilizing multidisciplinary technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations to study biological phenomena through the lens of chemistry and physics. Although most current biophysics work is focused on studying extant biology, the fact remains that modern biological systems at some point were descended from a universal common ancestor. At the core of modern biology is the important question of how the earliest life on (or off) Earth emerged. Recent technological and methodological advances developed by biophysicists in Japan have allowed researchers to gain a new suite of knowledge related to the origins of life (OoL). Using these reports as inspiration, here, we highlight some of the significant OoL advances contributed by members of the biophysical research field in Japan with respect to the synthesis and assembly of biological (or pre-biological) components on early Earth, the co-assembly of primitive compartments with biopolymer systems, and the evolution of early genetic systems. We hope to provide inspiration to other biophysicists to not only use the always-advancing suite of available multidisciplinary technologies to continue their own line of work, but to also consider how their work or techniques can contribute to the ever-growing field of OoL research.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/10/1/28biophysicsorigins of lifeastrobiologyinterdisciplinary science |
| spellingShingle | Tony Z. Jia Yutetsu Kuruma Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan Challenges biophysics origins of life astrobiology interdisciplinary science |
| title | Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan |
| title_full | Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan |
| title_short | Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan |
| title_sort | recent advances in origins of life research by biophysicists in japan |
| topic | biophysics origins of life astrobiology interdisciplinary science |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/10/1/28 |
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