Chemical Fueling Enables Molecular Complexification of Self-Replicators*

Area of Science:

• Origin of Life
• Chemical Evolution
• Systems Chemistry

Background:

• Understanding the emergence of complexity in living systems from simple chemical reactions is a major scientific challenge.
• Self-replicating molecules are hypothesized to be crucial precursors to cellular life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how chemical systems can evolve towards greater complexity.
• To explore the role of competition between replication and destruction in driving molecular evolution.
• To determine if complex replicators can exhibit enhanced catalytic functions.

Main Methods:

• Simulated a system of self-replicating molecules under conditions where replication competes with spontaneous destruction.
• Analyzed the structural and functional properties of evolving replicator populations.
• Assessed the catalytic efficiency of different replicator structures in a model chemical reaction.

Main Results:

• A regime balancing replication and destruction favored the emergence of more complex, albeit slower, replicators over simple, fast ones.
• Structurally complex replicators demonstrated superior catalytic proficiency in the model reaction.
• Chemical fueling maintained the system out of equilibrium, enabling the population of complex replicators.

Conclusions:

• Chemical systems can be driven towards complexity through controlled competition and out-of-equilibrium conditions.
• This complexification process is essential for the potential development of novel functions and open-ended evolution.
• The study provides insights into the chemical underpinnings of life's origins and evolutionary trajectories.