Abstract.
Theories about the origin of biomolecular homochirality, which seems to be a prerequisite for the creation of life, are discussed. First, possible terrestrial and extraterrestrial sources of organic molecules are outlined. Then, mechanisms for the formation of enantiomerically enriched compounds and for the amplification of their chirality are described.
Keywords: Key words. Formation of organic compounds; prebiotic chemistry; molecular evolution; amplification of chirality.
Footnotes
Received 2 May 2000; revised 13 July 2000; accepted 14 July 2000