Our proposed research, “Origin and
evolution of life”, which is one of the biggest mysteries in science,
was adopted under
WPI
(World Premier International Research Center Initiative) project in
2012, and Earth-Life Science Institute (
ELSI)
was newly established.
Our final goal is synthesis of life in laboratory.
Since the experiment by
Miller
(1953), numerous kinds of experiments have been conducted; however,
life could not be synthesized. The point is reproduction of primordial
surface environment on Earth where first life was born. Another key is
the presence of three components such as ocean, atmosphere, and
landmass (called “Habitable Trinity”) under the driving force, Sun.
Present biology is accumulated on researches of
Earth life. Therefore it is not a universal biology applicable to whole
Universe, but biology only applicable to Earth. To systematize
Astrobiology, how
we do it? I will introduce how to make it.
For successful multi-disciplinary research, each
researcher needs to recognize self-implementation of multi-disciplinary
research. It means an astronomer must write a paper of biology, and
vice versa, which requires preparedness and courage. This is critical
condition to be met by multi-disciplinary researchers.
Essay: "Leaping as
Frogs" by Toshiaki Iitaka