Peter Schuster is dead: He brought theoretical chemistry to life

Peter Schuster, a pivotal figure in theoretical chemistry in Vienna, has passed away at the age of 85. His groundbreaking work significantly advanced the theory of the origin of life, with a particular focus on the molecule RNA.

Schuster described RNA as a "molecular jack-of-all-trades," a molecule central to his extensive research, calculations, and contemplation on life's beginnings. His own research spanned the full breadth of theoretical chemistry, a field that blossomed following Erwin Schrödinger's formulation of quantum theory a century ago and became practical with the advent of computers.

As a doctoral student in the mid-1960s, Schuster was already involved in this burgeoning field. He calculated the properties of organic molecules he synthesized himself. Later, as a postdoc in Göttingen, he collaborated with Nobel laureate Manfred Eigen. Together, they simulated biochemical reaction systems exhibiting feedback loops, where RNA controls protein synthesis, and proteins, in turn, regulate RNA production. This work allowed them to model early evolution and simulate the emergence of life's precursors in the primordial soup.

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RNA, the molecule about whose role in the origin of life he worked, calculated, and thought so much, he once called a 'molecular jack-of-all-trades'.

Their research suggested that RNA molecules could self-replicate even without proteins, embodying and executing genetic information. This led to the concept of an "RNA world" – a primordial stage of life where RNA played a central role before the later development of DNA and proteins. Schuster made substantial contributions to the theory and modeling of this RNA world, integrating his clear understanding of evolution and neo-Darwinism. He often cited geneticist Theodosius Dozhansky: "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."

Upon returning to Vienna, Schuster initially focused on the structure of water, the essential medium for life, which is far from a simple liquid due to its complex hydrogen bonding. He became head of the Institute for Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Vienna in 1973, leading several working groups that continued his research themes. From 1992 to 1995, he also established the Institute for Molecular Biology in Jena during a three-year hiatus in Vienna. Schuster was known for his ability to make complex equations accessible, even to those averse to mathematics, opening the door to theoretical chemistry for many.

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Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.