Universal sequence replication, reversible polymerization and early functional biopolymers: a model for the...

Area of Science:

• Origin of Life Research
• Chemical Evolution
• Prebiotic Chemistry

Background:

• Existing models often focus on enzyme evolution post-origin.
• An earlier stage involves generating polymer sequence diversity before functional selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model polymer sequence generation and diversity before functional selection.
• To explore a prebiotic scenario with environmental cycles and varying monomer/polymer diffusivity.

Main Methods:

• Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations.
• Modeling environmental cycles (hydration-dehydration).
• Investigating sequence-independent replication and monomer competition.

Main Results:

• The model robustly explores sequence space, generating diverse polymers.
• Functional sequences, like monomer synthetases, can emerge and spread.
• High sequence diversity is maintained, allowing multiple functions to coexist.
• Polymers form clusters under specific diffusion conditions.

Conclusions:

• Environmental cycles and varying diffusivities are key to prebiotic sequence diversity.
• This model provides a plausible mechanism for early chemical evolution.
• The findings support theories of collective evolution in early life stages.