Robert Shapiro (chemist)

Robert Shapiro ( born November 28, 1935 in New York City; † 15 June 2011) was an American chemist.

Life

Robert Shapiro, born in 1935 in New York City, was an emeritus professor of chemistry at New York University. He was known especially for his work on chemical evolution and the origin of life. Contrary to the widespread theory that the first life forms from an RNA world had resulted, he thought it unlikely that from inanimate matter such a complex molecule such as RNA could arise. According to Shapiro was the formation of RNA - and thus the beginning of reproductive and genetic code - the emergence of a stable metabolic mechanism ahead. The origin of life on Earth and elsewhere in the Universe would therefore not as unlikely as according to the theory of the RNA world.

Shapiro died June 15, 2011 from the effects of cancer. He left behind his wife Sandra and son Michael.