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Chemical Fueling Enables Molecular Complexification of Self‐Replicators **
Author(s) -
Yang Shuo,
Schaeffer Gael,
Mattia Elio,
Markovitch Omer,
Liu Kai,
Hussain Andreas S.,
Ottelé Jim,
Sood Ankush,
Otto Sijbren
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202016196
Subject(s) - complexification , simple (philosophy) , living systems , key (lock) , computer science , chemistry , physics , artificial intelligence , epistemology , philosophy , quantum mechanics , computer security
Unravelling how the complexity of living systems can (have) emerge(d) from simple chemical reactions is one of the grand challenges in contemporary science. Evolving systems of self‐replicating molecules may hold the key to this question. Here we show that, when a system of replicators is subjected to a regime where replication competes with replicator destruction, simple and fast replicators can give way to more complex and slower ones. The structurally more complex replicator was found to be functionally more proficient in the catalysis of a model reaction. These results show that chemical fueling can maintain systems of replicators out of equilibrium, populating more complex replicators that are otherwise not readily accessible. Such complexification represents an important requirement for achieving open‐ended evolution as it should allow improved and ultimately also new functions to emerge.