Origins of Life - A Biochemical Perspective

Mihir Iyer

Abstract: The origin of life has been speculated for centuries with multiple different theories having shown up. From the theory of special creation to the Oparin-Haldane hypothesis, our understanding of the origin of life has evolved. Biochemistry and its subdisciplines have been a major factor in giving scientific proof to these theories. This article provides an overview of the major theories for how life originated, and the biochemical methods and reactions used to substantiate them.

Keywords: Biochemistry, Geochemistry, Molecular Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Biology