The Multiple Paths to Multiple Life.

Area of Science:

• Astrobiology
• Origin of Life Studies
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Current understanding posits a single origin of life on Earth.
• Life's definition is often tied to specific biochemical substrates like DNA and cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose that life's origins are not a universal homology but occurred through multiple pathways.
• To expand the search parameters for extraterrestrial life by considering diverse material forms and functions.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a computational analogy to define the origin of life as encompassing both 'hardware' (substrate) and 'software' (function).
• Analyzing adaptive systems through a hierarchical framework: function optimization, constraints, and materials.
• Examining how essential life functions can be realized by different substrates with varying efficiencies.

Main Results:

• Identified that life's essential functions can be achieved through diverse material forms and efficiencies.
• Demonstrated that the functional level is key to recognizing multiple origins of life.
• Proposed that origins of life can be found in various systems, including prebiotic proto-cells, cultural institutions, and software agents.

Conclusions:

• Life on Earth likely arose through multiple independent events, not a single universal origin.
• The search for life should extend beyond Earth-centric biochemical models to include diverse functional and material realizations.
• Understanding life's origins requires considering the interplay of function, constraints, and materials across different systems.