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Biosphere Origin and Evolution pp 119–129Cite as

Theoretical and Computer Modeling of Evolution of Autocatalytic Systems in a Flow Reactor

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Abstract

A chemoautotrophic concept of the initial stages of chemical prebiotic evolution, which eliminates key difficulties in the problem of life origin and permits experimental tests, is proposed. The concept leads to an important statement—organisms emerging (out of the Earth and/or inside an experimental reactor) have to be based on biochemical bases, different from those occurring on our planet. According to the concept the predecessor of living beings has to be sufficiently simple to provide non-zero probability of self-assembly during a short (in geological or cosmic scale) time. In addition the predecessor has to be capable of autocatalysis, and further complexification (i.e., evolution). A theoretical model of a multivariate oligomeric autocatalyst coupled with a phase-separated particle is presented. This model, possessing non-genomic inheritance, describes a version of the ‘metabolism first’ approach to life origin. Conducted computer simulation shows the origin of an autocatalytic oligomeric phase-separated system to be possible at reasonable values of the kinetic parameters of involved chemical reactions in a small-scale flow reactor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Theoretical Biophysics Department, Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, USA

    S.I. Bartsev

Authors
  1. S.I. Bartsev
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  2. V.V. Mezhevikin
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, 3 Pr.Koptyuga Novosibirsk, 630090 Novosibrisk, Russia

    Nikolay Dobretsov

  2. Institute of Cytology and Genetics, 17 Lavrenteva Prospekt Novosibirsk, 630090,Novosibirsk, Russia

    Nikolay Kolchanov

  3. Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123 Profsoyuznaya, Moskva 117647, Moscow, Russia

    Alexey Rozanov

  4. Inst. Microbiology Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 7/2 Prospekt 60 Let, Oktyabrya Moskva 117312, Moscow, Russia

    Georgy Zavarzin

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Bartsev, S., Mezhevikin, V. (2008). Theoretical and Computer Modeling of Evolution of Autocatalytic Systems in a Flow Reactor. In: Dobretsov, N., Kolchanov, N., Rozanov, A., Zavarzin, G. (eds) Biosphere Origin and Evolution. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68656-1_8

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