Non-uniformities and superimposed competition in a model of an autocatalytic network formed by error-prone self-replicative species

Abstract

The particular dynamics of the previously proposed model of a catalytic network formed byn error-prone self-replicative species without and with superimposed competition is analysed. In the first case, two situations are studied in detail: a uniform network in which all the species are inter-coordinated in the same way, and a network with a species differentiated in its catalytic relation with the remaining elements. In the second case, the superimposed competition is introduced at two levels: first, as an asymmetry in one of the network species amplification factor considering a null self-catalytic vector, and secondly, as a non-null self-catalytic vector with no asymmetry in the other propertics of the species. This kind of system does not present complex behaviour and can be adequately deseribed by performing a standard linear analysis, which gives direct information on the asymptotic behaviour of the sytem. Finally, the biological implications of this analysis within the framework of biological evolution are discussed.