Sayer Richard M P
Centre for the Study of Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK.
Biosystems. 2007 Jul-Aug;90(1):121-38. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2006.07.007. Epub 2006 Oct 2.
Standard theories suggest that the first informational replicator involved RNA molecules (or a more primitive analogue) and that a preliminary step for the development of such replicating systems may have been the emergence of subunits capable of forming chains and interchain pairings. Following these hypotheses, this discussion describes various abstract simulations designed to investigate the structures resulting from such interactions for generalised subunits. Three classes of pairing strategy were considered for a range of subunit concentrations. The resulting dynamic self-organization of the systems produced high levels of structural complexity (some at low subunit concentrations and in the presence of disruptive subunits) and a significantly increased percentage of complementary base pairing (particularly in the more substantial structures). These properties of the systems, which did not require pre-existing replicators, templates or functional catalysts, were shown to be sensitive to the form of pairing strategy, subunit concentrations and various conditions that could theoretically be altered by products of the systems. Though no systems behaved as a replicator, some possessed collections of properties from which a replicating system might theoretically be constructed without requiring the introduction of additional classes of properties. The implications of such systems were considered with respect to the origin of life.
标准理论认为，首个信息复制器涉及RNA分子（或更原始的类似物），并且此类复制系统发展的一个初步步骤可能是能够形成链和链间配对的亚基的出现。基于这些假设，本讨论描述了各种抽象模拟，旨在研究广义亚基之间此类相互作用所产生的结构。针对一系列亚基浓度，考虑了三类配对策略。系统由此产生的动态自组织产生了高度的结构复杂性（有些在低亚基浓度和存在干扰性亚基的情况下）以及互补碱基配对百分比的显著增加（特别是在更复杂的结构中）。这些系统的特性，不需要预先存在的复制器、模板或功能催化剂，已表明对配对策略的形式、亚基浓度以及理论上可由系统产物改变的各种条件敏感。虽然没有系统表现为复制器，但有些系统具有一系列特性，理论上可以从中构建复制系统而无需引入其他类型的特性。考虑了此类系统对于生命起源的意义。
