Autocatalytic Sets Arising in a Combinatorial Model of Chemical Evolution.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-26-2022
Publication Title
Life (Basel)
Keywords
washington; isb
Abstract
The idea that chemical evolution led to the origin of life is not new, but still leaves open the question of how exactly it could have led to a coherent and self-reproducing collective of molecules. One possible answer to this question was proposed in the form of the emergence of an autocatalytic set: a collection of molecules that mutually catalyze each other's formation and that is self-sustaining given some basic "food" source. Building on previous work, here we investigate in more detail when and how autocatalytic sets can arise in a simple model of chemical evolution based on the idea of combinatorial innovation with random catalysis assignments. We derive theoretical results, and compare them with computer simulations. These results could suggest a possible step towards the (or an) origin of life.
Department
Institute for Systems Biology
Recommended Citation
Hordijk, Wim; Steel, Mike; and Kauffman, Stuart, "Autocatalytic Sets Arising in a Combinatorial Model of Chemical Evolution." (2022). Articles, Abstracts, and Reports. 6710.
https://digitalcommons.providence.org/publications/6710
