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Computer experiment for selection of optical isomer during prebiotic polymerization
Origins of Life
|December 1, 1980
Summary
Computer simulations show that slight chemical differences in monomers can amplify asymmetry, leading to a high degree of single optical isomers in polymers. This asymmetry grows with polymerization, overcoming statistical fluctuations.
Area of Science:
- Origin of homochirality in prebiotic chemistry
- Computational chemistry and molecular modeling
Background:
- Prebiotic polymerization is crucial for the origin of life.
- Understanding the origin of homochirality (a predominance of one optical isomer) is a key challenge in origin of life research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the amplification of asymmetry in prebiotic polymerization.
- To explore the role of small initial asymmetries in monomer chemical natures.
- To examine the influence of parity non-conservation on chiral amplification.
Main Methods:
- Monte Carlo computer simulations were employed.
- Simulations modeled prebiotic polymerization processes.
- Investigated the development of asymmetry in growing polymer chains.
Main Results:
- A high degree of single optical isomers was achieved from racemic monomers.
- A small initial asymmetry in monomer chemical nature was sufficient for amplification.
- The rate of asymmetry development was slower than polymer growth.
- Polymer asymmetry increased with the degree of polymerization.
Conclusions:
- Small asymmetries in monomers can be amplified during prebiotic polymerization.
- Parity non-conservation effects can contribute to chiral amplification.
- The process involves a competition between preferential selection and statistical fluctuations.