Robert Shapiro (chemist)

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Robert Shapiro (born November 28, 1935 in New York City - † June 15, 2011 ) was an American chemist .

Life

Robert Shapiro, born in New York City in 1935, was Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at New York University . He was best known for his work on chemical evolution and the origin of life. Contrary to the widespread theory that the first forms of life emerged from an RNA world , he considered it unlikely that such a complex molecule as RNA could arise from inanimate matter. According to Shapiro, the development of RNA - and thus the beginning of reproduction and the genetic code - was preceded by the development of a stable metabolic mechanism. The origin of life on earth and elsewhere in the universe would therefore not be nearly as improbable as according to the theory of the RNA world.

Shapiro died on June 15, 2011 of complications from cancer. He left behind his wife Sandra and son Michael.

literature

  • A simple origin of life. Spectrum of Science, October 2007.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bob Shapiro Passes Away at Age 75 ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. at New York University, accessed August 26, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / chemistry.fas.nyu.edu
personal data
SURNAME Shapiro, Robert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American chemist
DATE OF BIRTH November 28, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH June 15, 2011