Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy Environments
Even though prebiotic chemistry initially deals with simple molecules, its composition rapidly gains complexity with oligomerization. Starting with, e.g., 20 monomers (such as the 20 proteinogenic amino acids), we expect 400 different dimers, 3,200,000 pentamers, or more than 10<sup>13</sup...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/5/720 |
| _version_ | 1797498487735058432 |
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| author | Christian Mayer |
| author_facet | Christian Mayer |
| author_sort | Christian Mayer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Even though prebiotic chemistry initially deals with simple molecules, its composition rapidly gains complexity with oligomerization. Starting with, e.g., 20 monomers (such as the 20 proteinogenic amino acids), we expect 400 different dimers, 3,200,000 pentamers, or more than 10<sup>13</sup> decamers. Hence, the starting conditions are very messy but also form a very powerful pool of potentially functional oligomers. A selecting structure (a “selector” such as membrane multilayers or vesicles) may pick and accumulate those molecules from the pool that fulfill a simple function (such as the suitability to integrate into a bilayer membrane). If this “selector” is, in turn, subject to a superimposed selection in a periodic process, the accumulated oligomers may be further trimmed to fulfill more complex functions, which improve the survival rate of the selectors. Successful oligomers will be passed from generation to generation and further improved in subsequent steps. After thousands of generations, the selector, together with its integrated oligomers, can form a functional unit of considerable order and complexity. The actual power of this process of random formation and selection has already been shown in laboratory experiments. In this concept paper, earlier results are summarized and brought into a new context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a47d3cfa35904551afbd17fa34024689 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-a47d3cfa35904551afbd17fa340246892023-11-23T11:50:28ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292022-05-0112572010.3390/life12050720Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy EnvironmentsChristian Mayer0Institute of Physical Chemistry, CENIDE, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyEven though prebiotic chemistry initially deals with simple molecules, its composition rapidly gains complexity with oligomerization. Starting with, e.g., 20 monomers (such as the 20 proteinogenic amino acids), we expect 400 different dimers, 3,200,000 pentamers, or more than 10<sup>13</sup> decamers. Hence, the starting conditions are very messy but also form a very powerful pool of potentially functional oligomers. A selecting structure (a “selector” such as membrane multilayers or vesicles) may pick and accumulate those molecules from the pool that fulfill a simple function (such as the suitability to integrate into a bilayer membrane). If this “selector” is, in turn, subject to a superimposed selection in a periodic process, the accumulated oligomers may be further trimmed to fulfill more complex functions, which improve the survival rate of the selectors. Successful oligomers will be passed from generation to generation and further improved in subsequent steps. After thousands of generations, the selector, together with its integrated oligomers, can form a functional unit of considerable order and complexity. The actual power of this process of random formation and selection has already been shown in laboratory experiments. In this concept paper, earlier results are summarized and brought into a new context.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/5/720messy environmentsordercomplexityfunctionselectionorigin of life |
| spellingShingle | Christian Mayer Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy Environments Life messy environments order complexity function selection origin of life |
| title | Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy Environments |
| title_full | Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy Environments |
| title_fullStr | Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy Environments |
| title_short | Spontaneous Formation of Functional Structures in Messy Environments |
| title_sort | spontaneous formation of functional structures in messy environments |
| topic | messy environments order complexity function selection origin of life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/5/720 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christianmayer spontaneousformationoffunctionalstructuresinmessyenvironments |