This process then creates mineral-rich chimneys with alkaline and acidic fluids, providing a source of energy facilitating chemical reactions between hydrogen and carbon dioxide to form increasingly complex organic compounds.
The study confirms some of the world’s oldest fossils first formed in these vents – adding even more evidence to their theory.
The team attempted to create proto-cells with a mixture of different fatty acids and fatty alcohols not previously used.
Dr Sean Jordan, the study’s first author, said: “Other experiments had all used a small number of molecule types, mostly with fatty acids of the same size, whereas in natural environments, you would expect to see a wider array of molecules.
source: express.co.uk