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Accelerated Self‐Replication under Non‐Equilibrium, Periodic Energy Delivery
Author(s) -
Zhang Rui,
Walker David A.,
Grzybowski Bartosz A.,
Olvera de la Cruz Monica
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201307339
Subject(s) - replication (statistics) , constant (computer programming) , energy (signal processing) , nanotechnology , computer science , chemical physics , materials science , physics , biology , quantum mechanics , virology , programming language
Self‐replication is a remarkable phenomenon in nature that has fascinated scientists for decades. In a self‐replicating system, the original units are attracted to a template, which induce their binding. In equilibrium, the energy required to disassemble the newly assembled copy from the mother template is supplied by thermal energy. The possibility of optimizing self‐replication was explored by controlling the frequency at which energy is supplied to the system. A model system inspired by a class of light‐switchable colloids was considered where light is used to control the interactions. Conditions under which self‐replication can be significantly more effective under non‐equilibrium, cyclic energy delivery than under equilibrium constant energy conditions were identified. Optimal self‐replication does not require constant energy expenditure. Instead, the proper timing at which energy is delivered to the system is an essential controllable parameter to induce high replication rates.