GAPS Post-colloquium Question Time TODAY

[Gaps]

Hey GAPS crew,

This week's colloquium is being given by Taka Momose on Homochirality and fundamental physics---in short why proteins consist of only left-handed amino acids whilst DNA/RNA consist of only right-handed amino acids (full abstract below). GAPS has secured a slot after the colloquium to ask Taka any questions you want in a smaller, GAPS only group. So make sure you come to the colloquium today MOB Auditorium 2pm, and stick around for some questions!

See you there!
- Your GAPS


Search for the Origin of Homochirality and its Relation to Fundamental Physics

Molecules are called chiral when they cannot be superposed on their mirror images, and their two non-superimposable mirror images are known as enantiomers. The biopolymers that make up living organisms are constructed from enantiopure chiral molecular subunits, which is called homochirality. For example the chiral amino acids that constitute proteins of our body are made of only left-handed (L)-isomers, and the sugars from which DNA and RNA are formed are solely right-handed (D)-isomers. The homochirality is indeed a prerequisite for higher forms of life. However, the origin of homochirality is still unknown and controversial in the natural sciences. Although, there are several well-studied mechanisms by which a small chiral imbalance may be amplified, the origin of the initial imbalance is still undetermined. There are many proposals for the origin of the initial imbalance, but two of the most attractive scenarios are (1) asymmetric destruction/production via polarized photons and/or leptons and (2) parity violating energy differences between enantiomers. Our group has been exploring these two scenarios by studying the stability and reactivity of cold chiral molecules. In this talk, we will discuss our efforts and recent results in the search for the origin of homochirality. We will also overview the origin of homochirality and its relation to fundamental physics.
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