Preface Lori Zaikowski1, Jon M. Friedrich2, and S. Russell Seidel1
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1
Department of Chemistry and Physics, Dowling College, Oakdale, NY 11769 2 Department of Chemistry, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458
In the first volume in this series, Chemical Evolution across Space & Time (1), we saw how the concept of evolution could be applied to chemical systems beginning with the origin of the most basic elements H, He, and Li in the Big Bang. Increasing complexity in the form of nucleosynthesis in stars and reactions around them followed pathways toward the synthesis of simple chemical compounds under the control of the basic principles of chemical binding and thermodynamics. The formation of our solar system led to more diverse chemical systems in the form of planetary atmospheres and the rocky parts of the planets and planetoids that they surround. This produced increasing chemical complexity coupled with an increasing diversity of chemical structures. A majority of Chemical Evolution across Space & Time dealt with descriptive investigations of what nature has created: humans acting as chemical archaeologists trying to comprehend the chemical history of the universe. In this volume, a descriptive, investigative theme continues with humans using chemical principles to better understand the origins and evolution of life and the Earth’s environment as we know it. Halfway through the volume, the perspective shifts. We begin to see how an increasing mastery of chemical construction – literally atom-by-atom – by humans can be used to create a deeper knowledge of biological and chemical processes. Hoye and Sizova point out that synthetic chemistry evolves, but not independently: advances in synthetic methods have changed chemistry. We are able to construct chemical structures that allow us to better examine nature’s complex methodology. An additional underlying theme in the second half of the book is an increasing desire for humans to mimic, and attempt to perfect, nature’s clever mastery of creating exceedingly tiny mechanically or electrically functional structures. Where the chemistry of the future lies is still a mystery and only time will tell. However, we know that the promise of human ingenuity and nanotechnology exemplified in this volume will continue to provide new applications and allow us increasing control of the produced chemical structures. The real question is what the effect of the structures synthesized with this control will be on the environment as a whole. As seen in the concluding chapter of this volume, the effects of human activity on evolutionary processes can be unexpected. Human ix In Chemical Evolution II: From the Origins of Life to Modern Society; Zaikowski, L., et al.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2010.
ingenuity – and perhaps hubris – will continue to use the ideas of evolution as they relate to chemistry to better understand, appreciate and manipulate the chemical world. This second volume on Chemical Evolution presents review chapters based on the proceedings of the symposium, “Chemical Evolution II: From Origins of Life to Modern Society”, that was held on April 7-8, 2008 at the 235th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans, Louisiana. We sincerely thank the authors for their valuable contributions to the symposium and the book.
Downloaded by 111.122.181.196 on November 4, 2015 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date (Web): December 20, 2009 | doi: 10.1021/bk-2009-1025.pr001
References 1.
Chemical Evolution across Space and Time: From the Big Bang to Prebiotic Chemistry; Zaikowski, L.; Friedrich J. M., Eds.; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2008; p 430.
x In Chemical Evolution II: From the Origins of Life to Modern Society; Zaikowski, L., et al.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2010.
