PASTEUR’S LAW: Asymmetry differentiates the organic world from the mineral world. In other words, asymmetric molecules are always the product of life forces
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Notes: organic = living[1] ; mineral = lifeless[2]
[1] https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/organic
PASTEUR’s LAW of the Asymmetry of Life
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AI Overview
Pasteur’s Law of the Asymmetry of Life, also known as the principle of molecular asymmetry, states that all products of biological processes are inherently chiral, meaning they exist in asymmetrical, “handed” forms that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superposed. Pasteur discovered that biologically created substances (like those from plants and animals) were exclusively one “handed” form, while chemically synthesized substances (formed without the influence of life) were a 50/50 mixture of both forms, like reflected images. This fundamental asymmetry between the organic and mineral worlds became the basis of the new science of stereochemistry.
The Discovery of Chirality
Tartaric Acid Crystals: In 1848, Pasteur studied tartaric acid crystals, observing that they could be divided into two types that were mirror images of each other.
Optical Activity: He found that these two types of crystals rotated plane-polarized light in opposite directions. This property, known as optical activity, is a hallmark of chiral molecules.
Organic vs. Mineral: Pasteur noted that biologically produced tartrate was exclusively one type (e.g., “right-handed”), whereas synthesized tartrate was a mixture of both types.
The “Asymmetry of Life”
Biological Preference: This led Pasteur to his “Law of the Asymmetry of Life”, which proposed that all products of life are asymmetrical and prefer one “handedness” (chirality).
Life as a “Cosmic” Force: He concluded that the life processes themselves were influenced by an inherent asymmetrical force, distinguishing the living world from the inorganic world”.
Foundational to Biology and Chemistry: This discovery was a profound insight, establishing that life possesses a unique three-dimensional structural property that is fundamental to its existence.
INSTITUT PASTEUR (PARIS)
Louis Pasteur, The Early Years 1847 – 1862
In 1847 Louis Pasteur, a young chemist freshly graduated from the prestigious Ecole normale supérieure, set to work on the problem posed by German physicist Eilhard Mitscherlich, namely, why do sodium ammonium paratartrate and tartrate – two seemingly identical chemical substances – affect polarized light differently ?
Crystallography and molecular asymmetry
1847: research on molecular asymmetry
After several years of research involving crystallography, chemistry and optics, Louis Pasteur drew a parallel between the external form of crystal, its molecular make-up and its effect on polarized light. He discovered that asymmetric crystals deflect polarized light whereas this is not possible for crystals with a plane of symmetry.
He established a law of primary importance. ” Only products originating under the influence of life are asymmetrical because they developed under the influence of cosmic forces which were themselves asymmetrical. ” Asymmetry is the major dividing line between the organic and mineral worlds.
Louis Pasteur’s work led to a new science: stereochemistry or spatial chemistry. It was also behind the emergence of synthetic chemistry.
Legacy of Louis Pasteur (PDF)
PASTEUR NET
The Work of Louis Pasteur
Everything follows on logically in the work of Louis Pasteur, from his studies on crystallography to his discovery of virus-vaccinations and the rabies prophylaxis.
The origin of Louis Pasteur’s work is his reading of a paper by a German physician, Mitscherlich. This latter had noticed that two chemical compounds, sodium ammonium tartrate and sodium ammonium paratartrate, have the same chemical composition and crystalline form, but yet have a different action on polarized light. Pasteur will try to discover the cause of this property.
First period : From 1847 to 1862 (i.e., 25 to 40 years old) Pasteur is mainly a physicist and a chemist.
1847: work on molecular asymmetry
After several years of research in which he associates crystallography, chemistry and optics, Pasteur shows that the external shape of a crystal, its molecular composition and its action on polarized light are all linked. Polarized light is rotated by asymmetric crystals, not by crystals that have a plane of symmetry.
He states this fundamental law: “only products originating under the influence of life are asymmetrical, because the cosmic [i.e. generative, life] forces that preside over their formation are themselves asymmetrical”.
Asymmetry differentiates the organic world and the mineral world. Pasteur’s work was the origin of a new science, stereochemistry (or spatial chemistry).
This triggers the development of chemical synthesis.
1855-1857: work on fermentation
Pasteur discovered molecular asymmetry by examining paratartrate crystals. When examining a solution of paratartaric acid, he noticed that this acid had fermented and dissociated under the effect of mould: only the left-handed tartaric acid could be found in the fermented liquid, while the right-handed tartaric acid had decomposed. Thus, the substance that was inactive under polarized light (paratartaric acid) had become active (left-handed tartaric acid) under the influence of fermentation.
Therefore, since every active substance originates from life, fermentation must be the work of life, instead of being the work of death as the chemist Liebig believed. Thus, only life can generate substances that are active on polarized light. This is the first step that will lead him from molecular asymmetry through fermentation to contagious diseases, via a logical sequence in his studies.
1857-1862
He studies lactic and alcoholic fermentation and shows that:
- all fermentation is due to the presence of a microorganism;
- for a given fermentation, there is a specific corresponding ferment.
In order to study a fermentation, he also shows it is necessary to:
- prepare a sterile culture medium that is suitable for the ferment;
- seed this medium with a trace of the ferment in a pure state.
This is the origin of all microbiological techniques
Pasteur worked as a chemist-biologist to study the mechanisms of fermentation. This led him to confirm the role and the specific nature of microorganisms.
Second period :
From 1862 to 1877 (i.e., 40 to 55 years old)
During this period, Pasteur becomes a biologist. He builds up the germ theory and annihilates the spontaneous generation theory.
Following his first discoveries, he asks questions about the origin of the microorganisms that are the agents of fermentation. Do they originate from germs similar to themselves or do they appear spontaneously in germ-favourable media? This was the spontaneous generation controversy. After some unforgettable struggles against his opponents (Pouchet), Pasteur could claim in his 1862 paper, on the basis of various experiments, that:
- airborne dust contains germs of primitive/lower organisms, always ready to develop and spread;
- even the most putrescible liquids remain unadulterated if care is taken to keep them away from these germs.
“Spontaneous generation is a chimera” (Pasteur)
He wonders how fermentations operate and how ferments work. By studying butyric fermentation, he discovers a new class of living beings, able to live in air-free conditions. He suggests the term of “anaerobic” for ferments that have the property of living in air-free conditions, the term “aerobic” designating microorganisms that require the presence of free oxygen in order to develop.
Fermentation is a consequence of air-free life
The work on fermentation leads Pasteur to apply the microbiological method to industry and agriculture.
He studies the formation of vinegar and the transformation of alcohol into acetic acid by a microorganism, Mycoderma aceti, which fixes oxygen from the air onto the alcohol. He shows vinegar makers how to obtain vinegar of a consistent quality.
Wine diseases
By studying the parasitic ferments of this beverage, Pasteur shows that each disease is due to a specific ferment. With a special heating at 55º C, it is possible to prevent diseases from affecting wines. This method, applied to all fermentable liquids, is known worldwide by the name of “Pasteurisation”.
Beer
Microorganisms brought in by airborne dust produce alterations in beer. Pasteur teaches brewers to protect the wort from dirt and heat beer to 55ºC to prevent diseases.
Silkworm diseases
In 1865, a disease devastates the silkworm industry, not only in France but also in Italy, Austria and Asia Minor: the silkworm nosema disease.
Pasteur notices, under the microscope, that worms suffering from this disease show shiny corpuscles and that these corpuscles are responsible for the disease.
He shows that nosema disease is hereditary and contagious.
He discovers another disease, known as flacherie, thus highlighting the notion of a specific “terrain” favourable for the outbreak of a disease.
He practically eliminates the disease by inventing cellular egg production.
Pasteur’s work has a huge importance: for the first time, heredity and contagion problems are solved, and prophylaxis rules are established. This is the prelude to his studies on contagious diseases and germ theory.
Third period :
From 1877 to 1887 (i.e., 55 to 65 years old)
In this decade, Pasteur uses microbiology for medicine and surgery.
1877 : study of infectious diseases
- discovery of the cause of furuncles and osteomyelitis: staphylococcus
- discovery of the puerperal infection microbe: streptococcus
- discovery of pneumococcus
1880 : methods of attenuating microbe virulence
- chicken cholera (by aging in contact with the air oxygen)
- sheep anthrax (by culture of anthrax bacillus at 43ºC, attenuated by air oxygen)
1881 : vaccinations
- cholera
- anthrax
- swine erysipelas
By applying his method to :
- the study of infectious diseases (microbial agents)
- their prevention (asepsis)
- their prophylaxis by immunization (vaccination)
Pasteur founds the science of immunology.
1880-1885 : rabies
Pasteur masters his experimental method. He studies rabies. He tries to isolate the germ but cannot find it. Rabies is a disease affecting the nervous system. He grows an invisible “micro-organism” on rabbit marrow and attenuates its virulence.
He applies this method of attenuation of virulent marrows to human beings for the first time on July 6th, 1885, when he treats Joseph Meister.
November 14th, 1888
Inauguration of the Pasteur Institute by Sadi Carnot.
Source : Pasteur Institute
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NGUỒN GỐC CÁCH LY MẦM BỆNH VÀ BẢO ĐẢM SỰ SỐNG
Phải đến tận thế kỷ 19 tức là cách đây chỉ hơn 100 năm, Louis Pasteur mới khám phá mầm bệnh từ vi khuẩn, virus, và đưa ra biện pháp thanh trùng, vệ sinh…
Thế nhưng có lẽ ít ai biết rằng Đức Chúa Trời (Danh Ngài là YHWH / Jehovah / Giê-hô-va nghĩa là Đấng Tự Hữu Hằng Hữu) từ gần 3500 năm trước đã ban Luật cho dân Israel khi họ còn lang thang trong sa mạc, trong đó ngoài 10 Điều Răn và các bổn phận với Chúa với người, còn có các qui tắc về sinh hoạt và vệ sinh cực kỳ chi tiết đến kinh ngạc (ví dụ chương 13-14 trong Lê-vi Ký dạy qui trình khám bệnh và CÁCH LY 14 NGÀY mà hiện nay y tế đang áp dụng).
Thế giới vẫn ngưỡng mộ về năng lực tồn tại và trí tuệ siêu đẳng của dân Do Thái, nhưng mấy ai chịu nhận ra cội nguồn giá trị ấy có được nhờ Kinh Thánh để chịu tìm đọc áp dụng cho chính mình?
Nhân loại vẫn hàm ơn Pasteur về bao công trình từ phòng thí nghiệm của ông, nhưng chắc ít ai biết bản thân ông chưa hề học y khoa, cũng không mê tín giáo hội, nhưng tin Chúa rất mạnh mẽ như lời công bố đăng trong The Literary Digest (18 October 1902):
“Posterity will one day laugh at the foolishness of modern materialistic philosophers. The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. I pray while I am engaged at my work in the laboratory.”
(tạm dịch):
“Sẽ đến một ngày hậu thế cười vào sự ngu ngốc của các nhà triết học duy vật hiện đại. Càng nghiên cứu thiên nhiên, tôi càng kinh ngạc trước công việc của Đấng Tạo Hóa. Tôi cầu nguyện đang khi gắn bó vào công việc của mình trong phòng thí nghiệm.”
Và chính cái tên “Pasteur” (trong tiếng Pháp nghĩa gốc là “Người Chăn Chiên”) cũng nhắc nhớ nhiều câu bảo đảm quý báu đầy trìu mến từ Đấng đáng tin cậy:
“Đức Jêsus lại phán cùng họ rằng: Quả thật, quả thật, ta nói cùng các ngươi, ta là cửa của chiên.
Ta là cái cửa: Nếu ai bởi ta mà vào, thì sẽ được cứu-rỗi; họ sẽ vào ra và gặp đồng cỏ.
Kẻ trộm chỉ đến để cướp giết và hủy-diệt; còn ta đã đến, hầu cho chiên được sự sống, và được sự sống dư-dật.
Ta là NGƯỜI CHĂN HIỀN LÀNH; người chăn hiền-lành vì chiên mình phó SỰ SỐNG mình.
Ta là người chăn hiền-lành, ta QUEN chiên ta, và chiên ta QUEN ta, cũng như Cha biết ta, và ta biết Cha vậy; ta vì chiên ta phó SỰ SỐNG mình.
Ta còn có chiên khác chẳng thuộc về chuồng nầy; ta cũng phải DẪN nó về nữa, chiên đó sẽ NGHE tiếng ta, rồi sẽ chỉ có một bầy, và MỘT NGƯỜI CHĂN mà thôi.
Chiên ta NGHE tiếng ta, ta quen nó, và nó THEO ta. Ta ban cho nó SỰ SỐNG ĐỜI ĐỜI; nó chẳng chết mất bao giờ, và chẳng ai cướp nó khỏi tay ta.
Cha ta là ĐẤNG LỚN HƠN HẾT đã CHO TA chiên đó, và chẳng ai cướp nổi chiên đó khỏi tay Cha.”
(Giăng 10:7, 9-11, 14-16, 27-29) VB1925 https://www.bible.com/…/jhn.10.7,9-11,14-16,27-29.vb1925
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