Suggested model for prebiotic evolution: the use of chaos

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Jun;80(11):3386-90. doi: 10.1073/pnas.80.11.3386.

Abstract

I elaborate on an earlier model for prebiotic evolution by adding a selection function depending randomly on base-pair correlations along the replicating RNA chains. By analogy with the equilibrium statistics of spin glass, this should give a wide variety of metastable "species" that can mutate or combine symbiotically.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Evolution
  • Mathematics
  • Models, Genetic*
  • Origin of Life*
  • RNA / genetics

Substances

  • RNA