Science. 1992 Feb 14;255(5046):848-50. doi: 10.1126/science.255.5046.848.
Replication and mutation are necessary elements of evolution, and some properties of self-replicating molecules (replicators) can be explored with synthetic structures. Selection and evolution at the molecular level require systems capable of competition and inheritable change. These phenomena have now been observed with synthetic molecules. Two such molecules were prepared having sufficient structural similarity that they catalyzed each other's formation as well as their own. One of the replicators bears a photochemically active function that is cleaved on irradiation. The resulting species is more effective at replication than the original and rapidly takes over the system's resources.
复制和突变是进化的必要元素，而一些自我复制分子（复制子）的特性可以通过合成结构来探索。分子水平上的选择和进化需要能够竞争和遗传变化的系统。这些现象现在已经在合成分子中观察到了。有两种这样的分子被制备出来，它们具有足够的结构相似性，既能催化对方的形成，也能催化自身的形成。其中一个复制子具有光化学活性功能，在照射时会被切断。生成的物种比原始物种更有效地进行复制，并迅速接管系统的资源。
