Joan Oró
Encyclopedia
Joan Oró i Florensa (Lleida
, October 26, 1923 – Barcelona
, September 2, 2004) was a biochemist
from Catalonia
(Spain
), whose research has been of importance in understanding the origin of life. He participated
in several NASA missions, including Apollo mission to the Moon
and the Viking lander. He received the Oparin medal
, awarded by the International
Astrobiology Society for his contributions to the field of origins of life.
and moved to the United States in 1952,
due to the scarce scientific resources offered by the Spanish academia at that time. Four years later he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry
in Houston. He became a full professor in Houston University in 1955 where he founded and directed the department of biochemistry and biophysics. From the 1960s he worked with NASA
on the Viking missions
which explored the planet Mars
. His work was essential in the analysis of samples of Martian soil, questioning early suggestions that life might have been detected. He was also involved in political life after the end of Franco's dictatorship as member of the Parliament of Catalonia
. He also served as a science advisor for many USA projects and committees, including those involved in the International Space Station
and the future missions to Mars.
adenine
(a key component of nucleic acids) from hydrogen cyanide. This was achieved during the period 1959–1962 and stands, together with the Miller-Urey experiment, as one of the fundamental results of prebiotic chemistry. It opened up a research area eventually leading to the complete synthesis of other components of nucleic acids.
. This conjecture (formulated in 1961) is largely accepted today. Although such idea had been around for a long time, it was only when both space exploration and prebiotic chemistry fully developed that extensive evidence was in place. Comets are known to be rich in carbon and water, bearing along precursor molecules based on carbon chemistry such as aminoacids. In this context, in 1971 Oró and co-workers published a paper revealing the high abundance of Amino-acids, aliphatic and
aromatic hydrocarbons in the Murchison meteorite
.
The Viking lander performed a series of experiments, including one designed by Oró, involving a small gas chromatograph
and mass spectrometer
. In one of these experiments, where a set of nutrients was mixed with Martian soil samples, a sudden production of carbon dioxide was reported, initially suggesting the presence of Martian microbes, which would have shown some kind of metabolic processing of nutrients. Oró showed that a simpler, abiotic interpretation was more likely to be the correct one: the catalytic chemical oxidation of test nutrients.
, 1983), the Alexander Ivanovich Oparin Medal Award from the ISSOL (Berkeley
, 1986), the Creu de Sant Jordi
(1991), and the Medalla del President Francesc Macià (2000).
He was named Marquess of Oró in 2003 by Royal Decree 819-32003 of 23 June.
He died in Barcelona
, Catalonia
, Spain
, on September 2, 2004.
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Lleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
, October 26, 1923 – Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, September 2, 2004) was a biochemist
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), whose research has been of importance in understanding the origin of life. He participated
in several NASA missions, including Apollo mission to the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and the Viking lander. He received the Oparin medal
Oparin Medal
The Oparin/Urey Medal honours important contributions to the field of origins of life. The medal is awarded by ISSOL . The award was originally named for Alexander Ivanovich Oparin, one of the pioneers in researching the origins of life...
, awarded by the International
Astrobiology Society for his contributions to the field of origins of life.
Life
Oró completed his undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of BarcelonaUniversity of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
and moved to the United States in 1952,
due to the scarce scientific resources offered by the Spanish academia at that time. Four years later he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry
in Houston. He became a full professor in Houston University in 1955 where he founded and directed the department of biochemistry and biophysics. From the 1960s he worked with NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
on the Viking missions
Viking program
The Viking program consisted of a pair of American space probes sent to Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2. Each spacecraft was composed of two main parts, an orbiter designed to photograph the surface of Mars from orbit, and a lander designed to study the planet from the surface...
which explored the planet Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. His work was essential in the analysis of samples of Martian soil, questioning early suggestions that life might have been detected. He was also involved in political life after the end of Franco's dictatorship as member of the Parliament of Catalonia
Parliament of Catalonia
The Parliament of Catalonia is the unicameral legislature of Catalonia. It is formed by 135 members , who are elected every four years in ordinary period, or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of Catalonia, by universal suffrage in proportional lists with four...
. He also served as a science advisor for many USA projects and committees, including those involved in the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
and the future missions to Mars.
Origins of life
One of his most important contributions was the prebiotic synthesis of the nucleobaseNucleobase
Nucleobases are a group of nitrogen-based molecules that are required to form nucleotides, the basic building blocks of DNA and RNA. Nucleobases provide the molecular structure necessary for the hydrogen bonding of complementary DNA and RNA strands, and are key components in the formation of stable...
adenine
Adenine
Adenine is a nucleobase with a variety of roles in biochemistry including cellular respiration, in the form of both the energy-rich adenosine triphosphate and the cofactors nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide , and protein synthesis, as a chemical component of DNA...
(a key component of nucleic acids) from hydrogen cyanide. This was achieved during the period 1959–1962 and stands, together with the Miller-Urey experiment, as one of the fundamental results of prebiotic chemistry. It opened up a research area eventually leading to the complete synthesis of other components of nucleic acids.
Cometary origin of prebiotic molecules
He was also the first scientist pointing towards comets as key carriers of organic molecules to our early biosphereBiosphere
The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It can also be called the zone of life on Earth, a closed and self-regulating system...
. This conjecture (formulated in 1961) is largely accepted today. Although such idea had been around for a long time, it was only when both space exploration and prebiotic chemistry fully developed that extensive evidence was in place. Comets are known to be rich in carbon and water, bearing along precursor molecules based on carbon chemistry such as aminoacids. In this context, in 1971 Oró and co-workers published a paper revealing the high abundance of Amino-acids, aliphatic and
aromatic hydrocarbons in the Murchison meteorite
Murchison meteorite
The Murchison meteorite is named after Murchison, Victoria, in Australia. It is one of the most studied meteorites due to its large mass , the fact that it was an observed fall, and it belongs to a group of meteorites rich in organic compounds....
.
Viking mission
Oró also provided a chemical interpretation of a set of remarkable, and to some extent unexpected results reported by the Viking mission to Mars.The Viking lander performed a series of experiments, including one designed by Oró, involving a small gas chromatograph
Gas-liquid chromatography
Gas chromatography , is a common type of chromatography used in analytical chemistry for separating and analysing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. Typical uses of GC include testing the purity of a particular substance, or separating the different components of a mixture...
and mass spectrometer
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles.It is used for determining masses of particles, for determining the elemental composition of a sample or molecule, and for elucidating the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and...
. In one of these experiments, where a set of nutrients was mixed with Martian soil samples, a sudden production of carbon dioxide was reported, initially suggesting the presence of Martian microbes, which would have shown some kind of metabolic processing of nutrients. Oró showed that a simpler, abiotic interpretation was more likely to be the correct one: the catalytic chemical oxidation of test nutrients.
Awards
He was awarded, among other honors, the Cross of Civil Order of Alfonso X el Sabio (MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, 1983), the Alexander Ivanovich Oparin Medal Award from the ISSOL (Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, 1986), the Creu de Sant Jordi
Creu de Sant Jordi
The Creu de Sant Jordi is the highest civil distinction awarded in Catalonia . It was established by the Generalitat de Catalunya autonomous government by virtue of the Decret 457/1981 de 18 de desembre in 1981.. The medal was designed by goldsmith Joaquim Capdevila.-Recipients:*List of...
(1991), and the Medalla del President Francesc Macià (2000).
He was named Marquess of Oró in 2003 by Royal Decree 819-32003 of 23 June.
He died in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, on September 2, 2004.
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