May 29, 2026, at the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, the thirty-third meeting of the general academic interdisciplinary seminar in the field of natural sciences "Topical Issues of Physico-Chemical and Mathematical Biology" took place. With an interdisciplinary report "From Molecules to Cells. Physico-Chemical Aspects of Evolution", the director of the Ukrainian Language and Information Fund of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Shyrokov spoke (co-report topic: "From Molecule to Cell. Problems of Abiogenesis in the Light of the General Theory of Evolution") and professor of the Department of Organic Chemistry of the Chemical Faculty of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor Vasyl Pyvovarenko (co-report topic: "Details of the Chemical Stage of the Evolution of the Earth's Biosphere"). The event was held in a debate format.
Opening the meeting, the seminar leader, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Head of the Muscle Biochemistry Department of this Institute, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Kosterin noted that the problem of the origin of life on Earth has long interested not only professional scientists. Currently, several theories attempt to explain the origin of life: theories of abiogenesis, biogenesis, and panspermia. There are also corresponding hypotheses: RNA world, thioether world, hydrothermal, clay materials, steady-state. However, in the scientific aspect, the problem of the origin of life is complex, very complicated, and undoubtedly interdisciplinary. Both biologists and chemists and physicists actively express their considerations on this issue in scientific literature and discussions. A comprehensive scientific analysis of this problem truly requires the consolidation of efforts of specialists not only in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, and virology, cytology but also in organic, physical, and colloidal chemistry, theoretical physics (thermodynamics, statistical and quantum physics), as well as astronomy, paleontology, and geology. The seminar leader admitted that by the end of the event, it would hardly be possible to clearly say that cells and life arose just so and not otherwise, but in his opinion, one of the powerful driving forces of science is creative discussions. He recalled Albert Einstein's saying: "Science can only flourish in an atmosphere of freedom of speech." Then academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Kosterin outlined the scientific interests of the speakers, emphasizing that both are highly qualified and talented scientists and friends of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine.
After that, the floor for co-reports was taken by academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Shyrokov and Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor Vasyl Pyvovarenko.
After the presentations, questions to the speakers and discussion of their reports were made, in particular, by:
- Director of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Advisor to the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Komisarenco;
- Director of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine, Advisor to the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Yaroslav Yatskiv;
- Leading Researcher of the Muscle Biochemistry Department of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Biological Sciences Yuriy Danylovych;
- Seminar attendee Yuriy Pyvovarenko;
- Seminar leader, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Head of the Muscle Biochemistry Department of this Institute, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Kosterin, and others.
In his concluding speech, seminar leader academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Kosterin thanked academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Shyrokov and Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor Vasyl Pyvovarenko for their meaningful and informative reports and wished them further success in researching urgent problems of modern natural science.
The final chord of the event was "Novelletta" by Francis Poulenc performed by student of the National Music Academy of Ukraine Yuliya Yermolova.
VIDEO RECORDING OF THE SEMINAR
P.S. The next seminar meeting is scheduled for June 2026.
According to information from the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine
Photo author – Volodymyr Koshovenko
