X射线光谱在生命起源和全球气候变化等若干重大科学问题中的研究进展

生命起源、全球气候变化等是关系到人类未来命运的重大科学问题, X射线光谱(XRS)可原位测定物质组成与元素形态,在解决重大科学问题、揭示自然规律中发挥了重要作用:(1)在生命起源探索中,通过RNA结构和海洋热液自养体系元素形态分析,揭示了RNA形成机制和生物地球化学规律;(2)在地球早期生命研究中,通过沉积纹层、细胞组构测定,发现了远古生物保存机制与证据;(3)在全球碳循环研究中,通过物相与元素形态分析,揭示了铁源生物有效性与碳汇机制。利用XRS从微纳米尺度原位测定元素三维空间分布与形态,实现活体分析蛋白质信息传递与生物响应过程,探索元素与有机质构效关系,揭示生命起源与生物代谢机制及全球气候变化规律,是XRS未来发展中的重要领域;作为冶金、材料、地质、文物、工矿、生态、环境、医学与生命科学等领域中的重要分析手段, XRS所特有的无损、原位与活体分析特性,已呈现了巨大应用价值,在未来探索重大科学问题、解决关键技术难点的研究中, X射线光谱分析技术必将发挥更大作用。

Advantages of X-Ray Spectrometry in Origin of Life,Earth Life on Ear th and Global Climate Change

Origin of life and evolution,early life on Earth and the global climate changes a re among the major concerns because of their close relations with human beings.X-ray spectrometry(X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption)plays an import ant role in making scientific discoveries by determination of the elements and their species.In the review,we demonstrate the application of XRS to the studies in the origin of life,the identification of life traces on the early Earth and the global climate changes.Major reviews are on(1)how the analyses of C,Fe and S species are used in interpreting their roles in the hydrothermal vents and the RNA world;(2)what are the difficulties in the identification of early life and can be done by the determination of stromatolite,minerals with disproportionation reaction and organic microfossils in the identification of biogenic and abiogenic process;(3)what are the correlations among Fe sources,the species,organic matter and the bioavailability in the carbon circles in the oceans and the inland water systems.