The Photophysics of Nucleic Acids: Consequences for the Emergence of Life

[摘要] Photochemical reactions in nucleic acids induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation could have played an important role in the prebiotic selection of the building blocks of life. This Review summarizes the quantum efficiencies of the photorelaxation pathways of nucleic acids and discusses its implications for the emergence of an initial sequence pool on early Earth.

[关键词] Origins of Life;Quantum Yields;DNA Damage;Photochemistry;Prebiotic chemistry