Molecular Theory of Evolution: Outline of a Physico-Chemical Theory of the Origin of Life

Introduction......Page 10
I. THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION......Page 14
1. Definition of Living Systems......Page 16
2. Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules......Page 20
2.1. The Nucleic Acids......Page 22
2.2. The Proteins......Page 28
2.3. The Genetic Code......Page 32
3. The Information Problem......Page 38
II. PRINCIPLES OF MOLECULAR SELECTION AND EVOLUTION......Page 44
4. A Model System for Molecular Self-Organization......Page 46
5.1. Phenomenological Equations......Page 49
5.2. Selection Constraint CP: Constant Population......Page 55
5.3. Solution of the CP Selection Equations......Page 63
5.4. The Quasi-Species......Page 71
5.5. Selection Dynamics in CP Systems......Page 76
5.6. Complementary Instruction and Selection in CP Systems......Page 81
5.7. Selection Constraint CF: Constant Fluxes......Page 87
5.8. Solution of the CF Selection Equations......Page 90
5.9. Selection Dynamics in CF Systems......Page 98
5.10. Competition and coexistence in CF Systems......Page 103
6. Stochastic Theory of Selection......Page 112
6.1. Fluctuations and Stability......Page 113
6.2. Markovian Processes......Page 118
6.3. Stochastic Treatment of Simple Selection Models......Page 127
III. THE TRANSITION FROM THE NON-LIVING TO THE LIVING......Page 135
7. The Information Threshold......Page 137
7.1. The Quality Function......Page 138
7.2. Conditions for Stable Selection......Page 141
7.3. The Accuracy of Copying of Individual Symbols......Page 143
7.4. The Physics of Complementary Base Recognition......Page 146
7.5. Information Storage in Darwinian Systems......Page 157
8.1. General Selection Equations......Page 162
8.2. Methods of Stability Analysis: Fixed Point Analysis......Page 167
8.3. Long-Term Behaviour of Self-Organizing Systems......Page 171
9.1. The Hypercycle – Basic Principles......Page 183
9.2. Dynamics of Elementary Hypercycles......Page 189
9.3. Selection Properties of Hypercycles......Page 197
9.4. The Catalytic Hypercycle......Page 213
10.1. Probability of Nucleation......Page 218
10.2. Models of Prebiotic Translation......Page 223
11. The Evolution of Hypercycles......Page 236
11.1. Self-Organization of Catalytic Hypercycles......Page 237
11.2. Compartmentation and Individuation of Hypercycles......Page 248
IV. MODEL AND REALITY......Page 251
12.1. The Thermodynamic Framework......Page 253
12.2. Stationary and Periodic Boundary Conditions......Page 263
13. Evolution in the Test-Tube......Page 265
13.1. The Qß Replicase System......Page 266
13.2. Darwinian Selection in vitro......Page 272
13.3. Experimental Perspectives: An Evolution Machine......Page 280
14. Conclusions: The Logic of the Origin of Life......Page 287
MATHEMATICAL APPENDICES......Page 294
A.1. The Eigenvalue Problem......Page 296
A.2. Linear Stability Analysis......Page 300
A.3. The Method of Lagrange Multipliers......Page 306
A.4. Stochastic Processes......Page 309
Bibliography......Page 315
Index......Page 325