Born 24 Mar 1912; died 10 Aug 1998 at age 86.

Sidney Walter Fox was an American #biochemist who was interested in the #biological origin of life, rather than tracing a strictly biochemical path. He gave the name #proteinoid to the protein-like polymer that results from a mixture of #aminoacids subjected to such considerable heating as would be present during the volcanic #primordial earth. Fox observed that when proteinoids or "thermal proteins," are placed in water, they self-organize into microspheres or #protocells, possible precursors of the contemporary living cell.

Fox argued that #RNA or #DNA need not date back to the #OriginOfLife, and he showed that proteinoid #microspheres exhibit #growth, #metabolism, #reproduction (by budding), and responsiveness to stimuli - all properties of life - though without a #genetic system.