A Chemist’s Perspective on the Role of Phosphorus at the Origins of Life The central role that phosphates play in biological systems, suggests they also played an important role in the emergence of life on Earth. In recent years, numerous important advances have been made ...

In mid-1980's I asked my grad O-chem professor why/how did phosphorus become a turning point for the evolution of life on Earth. After a long sigh she told me I had to accept that "...we don't have all the answers for questions like that".

I refused to accept that.
#paleochemistry #organicchem