Such thinking will foster a new perception of nature, which undoubtedly will develop into a comprehensive outlook that encompasses natural sciences, philosophy, psychology, and ethical and religious doctrines.
Acknowledgements
This research was conducted as part of the 'Structure and Functional Properties Group' studies of the Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PREST) project of the Research Development Corporation of Japan (JRDO). I express my appreciation to Dr. Kohra, the group coordinator, for his invaluable assistance during the 3 years of this study. I am also grateful to the members of the Screening Committee, which later became the Promotion Committee, for all their helpful advice.
I also thank the following professors and researchers for their vital discussions on the structures of minerals and water during the initial stage of this research: Dr. Masato Moritoki of Kobe Steel; Drs. Norio Hirokawa and Masahiro Ueda of Kaneka Corporation; Dr. Kazunari Ohgaki of Osaka University; and Dr. Yoshio Haranoh of Fukuyama University. In addition, Drs. Hirokawa and Ueda provided invaluable ideas for a revolutionary new type of electron microscope photography of minerals and water.
Finally, I express my special gratitude to Dr. Hironari Yamada of Ritsumeikan University for his electron microscope photography of the microbe-like objects. Without his help, and the help of everyone else concerned, this study would not have been possible.
References
[1] A. G. Cairns-smith, Genetic, takeover and the mineral origins of life, Cambridge University Press (1982).
[2] A.H. Narten, M.D. Danford and H.A. Levy, Discussions Faraday Soc., 43 (1967) 97.
[3] N. Ohtomo. K. Tokiwano and K. Arakawa, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 55 (1982) 2788.
[4] N. Hirokawa et al., private commun.
[5] S.L Miner, Science, 117 (1953) 528. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 77 (1955) 2351.
[6] H. Yamada, private commun.
