PMID: 6162031Dec 1, 1980Paper

A theory for the origin of a self-replicating chemical system. I: Natural selection of the autogen from short, random oligomers

Journal of Molecular Evolution
D H White

Abstract

A theory is described for the origin of a simple chemical system named an autogen, consisting of two short oligonucleotide sequences coding for two simple catalytic peptides. If the theory is valid, under appropriate conditions the autogen would be capable of self-reproduction in a truly genetic process involving both replication and translation. Limited catalytic ability, short oligomer sequences, and low selectivities leading to sloppy information transfer processes are shown to be adequate for the origin of the autogen from random background oligomers. A series of discrete steps, each highly probable if certain minimum requirements and boundary conditions are satisfied, lead to exponential increase in population of all components in the system due to autocatalysis and hypercyclic organization. Nucleation of the components and exponential increase to macroscopic amounts could occur in times on the order of weeks. The feasibility of the theory depends on a number of factors, including the capability of simple protoenzymes to provide moderate enhancements of the accuracies of replication and translation and the likelihood of finding an environment where all of the required processes can occur simultaneously. Regardless of wheth...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 1, 1982·Origins of Life·C C King
Dec 1, 1993·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·N Lahav
Jan 1, 1985·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·N Lahav
Jan 1, 1982·Journal of Molecular Evolution·N Lahav, S Chang
Jan 1, 1983·Journal of Molecular Evolution·G F Joyce
Sep 18, 2007·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Maya Fishkis
Apr 20, 2001·Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology·N LahavA C Elitzur
Jul 19, 2011·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Juan-Carlos LetelierAthel Cornish-Bowden
May 20, 2015·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Athel Cornish-Bowden
Dec 1, 1980·Journal of Molecular Evolution·D H White, J C Erickson
Nov 13, 2019·Bio Systems·Athel Cornish-Bowden, María Luz Cárdenas

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