The Origin of Chirality in the Molecules of Life -- Contents -- Chapter 1 Introduction and Historical Background -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 The Contribution of Pasteur -- 1.2.1 Quartz -- 1.2.2 Tartaric Acid and the Tartrates -- 1.3 The Nature of the Problem -- References -- Chapter 2 Theories of the Origin of Biomolecular Homochirality -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Chance Theories -- 2.2.1 Amplification of Tiny Stochastic Imbalances -- 2.2.2 Polymerizations Above a Critical Chain Length: Macromolecules -- 2.3 Deterministic Theories -- References -- Chapter 3 The Concept of Chirality -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 The Basic Symmetry Operations -- 3.2.1 Space Inversion: The Parity Operator, P -- 3.2.2 The Time Reversion: The Time Reversal Operator, T -- 3.2.3 The Charge Conjugation: The Charge Conjugation Operator, Ĉ -- 3.3 The Failure of the Experiments of Pasteur, Curie and Others -- 3.3.1 Absence of Chiral Field -- 3.3.2 Experiments Under False Chiral Influence -- 3.3.3 Experiments Under True Chiral Influence -- 3.4 Expected Effect of True and False Chirality on Molecules -- References -- Chapter 4 Chiral Physical Forces -- 4.1 Background -- 4.2 The Weak Interaction and the Parity Violation -- 4.2.1 The Fundamental Interactions: Gravitational, Weak Interaction, Electromagnetic and Strong Interaction -- 4.2.2 The β-Decay -- 4.2.3 Parity Violation -- 4.2.4 Unification of Forces -- 4.2.5 Quantification of the Parity Violation in Molecules: ∆Epv -- 4.2.6 β-Radiolysis -- 4.3 Asymmetric Photolysis and Photosynthesis -- 4.3.1 Circularly Polarized Light: Circular Dichroism -- 4.3.2 The Magnetochiral Effect -- 4.4 Fluid Dynamics: Vortex Motion -- References -- Chapter 5 Mechanisms of Amplification -- 5.1 Background -- 5.2 Autocatalysis -- 5.2.1 The Frank Model -- 5.2.2 Theoretical Models Derived from Frank's Original Model6.

5.2.3 Autocatalytic Amplification of the Weak Force -- 5.2.4 Asymmetric Autocatalytic Reactions -- 5.2.5 Self-replication -- 5.3 Amplification of Chirality in Other Chemical Reactions -- 5.3.1 Nonlinear Effects -- 5.3.2 Amplification of Chirality by Cooperative Forces: Growing Polymers and Supramolecular Assemblies -- 5.4 The Yamagata Cumulative Mechanism -- 5.5 The Salam Phase Transition -- 5.6 Amplification of Scalemic Compounds: Eutectic Mixtures -- 5.6.1 Solubility Properties -- 5.6.2 Sublimation Properties -- 5.7 Amplification of Chirality in Serine Octamers -- 5.7.1 Homochiral Preference and Chiral Amplification -- 5.7.2 Chemistry of Serine Octamers -- 5.7.3 Sublimation Experiments -- References -- Chapter 6 Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Crystallization -- References -- Chapter 7 Outside Earth: Meteorites and Comets -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Meteorites -- 7.3 Comets -- References -- Chapter 8 Other Local Deterministic Theories -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Chiral Crystals and Faces on Crystals -- 8.2.1 Quartz -- 8.2.2 Calcite, Gypsum, Clay Minerals and Others -- 8.2.3 Organic Crystals: Glycine -- 8.3 Two-Dimensional Chirality -- References -- Chapter 9 Intrinsic Asymmetry of the Universe: The Arrow of Space-Time and the Unequal Occurrence of Matter and Antimatter -- References -- Subject Index.