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The origin of autonomous agents by natural selection
Chrisantha Fernando1, Jonathan Rowe
1School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. c.t.fernando@cs.bham.ac.uk
Bio Systems
|August 29, 2007
Summary
This study models the origin of autonomous agents from lipid aggregates on early Earth. It shows how natural selection and heredity can lead to complex self-sustaining chemical systems without requiring pre-existing genetic material.
Area of Science:
- Origin of Life Studies
- Artificial Chemistry
- Systems Chemistry
Background:
- Primitive Earth conditions may have fostered early life precursors.
- Lipid aggregates could serve as early protocells, growing and dividing.
- Natural selection requires heredity and differential reproductive success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose conditions for the emergence of autonomous agents.
- To investigate the role of lipid aggregates in early chemical evolution.
- To model the development of complexity in self-sustaining systems.
Main Methods:
- Development of a computer model with artificial chemistry.
- Simulation of a population of lipid aggregates.
- Incorporation of conservation of mass and energy principles.
Main Results:
- The model demonstrated the emergence of self-sustaining processes.
- Lipid aggregates evolved complexity through natural selection.
- Autocatalytic replicators emerged, benefiting their lipid containers.
Conclusions:
- Autonomous agents can arise from simple lipid aggregates.
- Heredity and selection drive macroevolution in chemical systems.
- This model provides a plausible pathway for abiogenesis.
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