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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 10: Evolution and Origin of Life
BP 10.9: Talk
Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 12:00–12:15, BAR 0106
Controlling Alkaline Vent Morphologies in Microfluidic Models by pH and Fluid Flow — •Maximilian Weingart1, Siyu Chen2, Clara Donat2, Dieter Braun1, and Karen Alim2 — 1Systems Biophysics, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Amalienstraße 54, 80799 München, Germany — 2CPA and Department of Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, Technische Universität München, Ernst-Otto-Fischer-Straße 8, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany
Alkaline vents provide the unique chemical composition for the precip- itation of alkaline fluids in acidic, metal-ion containing ocean water, thereby providing the necessary gradients to drive molecular reactions at the origin of life. Yet, the 3D chimney-like structure of vents pre- vents any visualization of potentially reaction fueling gradients. Here, we develop a microfluidic model of alkaline vents permitting spatio-temporal visualization of precipitate formation and morphol- ogy. Varying concentration and inflow rate of an alkaline solution into a flat microfluidic-chamber pre-filled with an acidic Fe(II)-solution we observe a diverse set of precipitate morphologies. Visualizing the pre- cipitation pattern we identify for which physical parameter vent mor- phologies allow for gradients in pH and molecular composition to arise. We establish our microfluidic model as a framework to investigate the potential of gradients across a permeable boundary for early compart- mentalisation and molecular reactions at the Origin of life. The 2D microfluidic alkaline vent model shows that disordered precipitate mor- phologies allow for the formation of strong pH gradients.