CONJECTURES AND REVERIES

The origin of photosynthesis is speculated to have involved carbon dioxide and self-replicating iron-rich clays. The later evolution of photosynthesis is considered to have undergone four distinct phases: (1) The photoreduction of carbon dioxide by ferrous ion to form oxalate and formate. (2) The entry of sulfur into the evolving clay system which led to the formation of acetyl thioesters. The polymerization of the acetyl thioesters led to the formation of quinones. The formation of Fe2S2 and Fe4S4 cores appeared in this phase. (3) The ability to fix nitrogen characterized the third phase. This led to the formation of pyrrole, flavin, nicotinamide, phycobilins, porphyrins and chlorophyll. (4) Finally, phosphate entered the evolving system. The chromophores evolved from ferrous ion through the quinones, carotenoids, phycobilins to chlorophyll. This evolution of chromophores implies that photosynthesis began in the UV and evolved through the blue, yellow, orange into the red. The electron transport chain evolved from ferrous ion through the Fe2S2 and Fe4S4 cores to the hemes.