Framing major prebiotic transitions as stages of protocell development: three challenges for origins-of-life research

• DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.13.135
• Publication Date: 2017-07-13T09:06:35Z
• Authors: Ben Shirt-Ediss; Sara Murillo-Sánchez; Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo
• Keywords: Protocell; Abiogenesis; Chemical evolution; Prebiotic

Conceiving the process of biogenesis as evolutionary development highly dynamic and integrated protocell populations provides most appropriate framework to address difficult problem how prebiotic chemistry bridged gap full-fledged living organisms on early Earth. In this contribution we briefly discuss implications taking dynamic, functionally systems (rather than complex reaction networks in bulk solution, sets artificially evolvable replicating molecules, or even these same molecules encapsulated passive compartments) proper units evolution. We highlight, particular, organisational features those chemically active reactive protocells, at different stages process, would strongly influence their corresponding capacities. As a result our analysis, suggest three experimental challenges aimed constructing made diversity coupled components and, thereby, characterizing more precisely type dynamics that such protocells could engage in.