Transition from Non-Living Molecules to Living Systems: A Scientific Perspective

The origin of life on Earth represents one of the most profound scientific questions, linking disciplines such as chemistry, geology, molecular biology, and astrophysics. This paper examines the stepwise transition from non-living molecules to primitive living systems, focusing on the synthesis, organization, and evolution of prebiotic compounds under early Earth conditions. The study explores the abiotic formation of biomolecules like amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids through terrestrial and extraterrestrial processes, and evaluates how these compounds may have self-assembled into protocells. Central to the discussion is the RNA World hypothesis and alternative models such as the amyloid-world scenario, which highlight plausible pathways to self-replication and catalytic activity. The role of energy sources hydrothermal gradients, redox chemistry, and photochemical reactions in sustaining non-equilibrium systems is critically assessed. The paper also reviews experimental reconstructions and computational models that simulate early molecular evolution, providing evidence for the emergence of complexity through natural selection. This synthesis contributes to a growing body of research that supports abiogenesis as a multistage, testable, and increasingly understood phenomenon.