Graham Cairns-Smith
From EvoWiki
Alexander Graham Cairns-Smith, also known as A. G. Cairns-Smith or Graham Cairns-Smith (born 1931) is a chemist and biologist. He works at Glasgow University (England).
Clay Origin of Life
Cairns-Smith developed a theory on the origin of life (abiogenesis) based on the self-replication of clay crystals in a solution. This theory, though widely known, is not generally accepted.
The hypothesis starts with the idea that clays can form from dissolved silicates. Clay crystals preserve their shape while growing. The essential idea is that those crystal shapes with the most stable growth patterns would dominate, whereas those with less stable growth patterns would be outcompeted. In this way a stable, uniform micro- or even macro-environment could originate from a purely physical process.
The second step would be an interaction of the specific clay type with organic molecules. Due to the uniform shape of the clay crystals, a selection for certain organic molecules would result, Complex molecules of again non-random types could originate in the vicinity of the clay crystals due to catalytic properties of the clays.
In this manner, high concentrations of complex organic molecules, as needed for the origin of life, can be achieved.
Origin of the Mind
Cairns-Smith considers the quantum mechanical effects as essential for the explanation of consciousness. This claim is shared by some philosophers (e.g. Roger Penrose) while it is rejected by others (e.g. Daniel Dennett).
Books
- Cairns-Smith, A. G. An approach to a blueprint for a primitive organism. In Waddington, Towards a Theoretical Biology, vol. 1, 57—66 (1968)
- Cairns-Smith, A. G. Genetic Takeover and the Mineral Origins of Life. New York: Cambridge University Press (1982) ISBN 0521233127 (1985 reprint)
- Cairns-Smith, A. G. Seven Clues to the Origin of Life. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press (1985) ISBN 0521275229
- Cairns-Smith, A. G. Evolving the Mind. On the Nature of Matter and the Origin of Consciousness: Cambridge University Press (1996) ISBN 0521402204
