Abstract The search for alien life is hard because we do not know what signatures are unique to life. We show why complex molecules found in high abundance universal biosignatures and demonstrate the first intrinsic experimentally tractable measure of molecular complexity, called assembly index (MA). To this calculate complexity several million validate that their can be determined by mass spectrometry. This approach allows us identify from a set diverse samples around world, outer space,...

Scientists have grappled with reconciling biological evolution1,2 the immutable laws of Universe defined by physics. These underpin life's origin, evolution and development human culture technology, yet they do not predict emergence these phenomena. Evolutionary theory explains why some things exist others through lens selection. To comprehend how diverse, open-ended forms can emerge from physics without an inherent design blueprint, a new approach to understanding quantifying selection is...

The hypothesis that many living systems should exhibit near-critical behavior is well motivated theoretically, and an increasing number of cases have been demonstrated empirically. However, a systematic analysis across biological networks, which would enable identification the network properties drive criticality, has not yet realized. Here, we provide first comprehensive survey criticality diverse sample leveraging publicly available database 67 Boolean models regulatory circuits. We find...

What dynamic network properties allow the emergence of life?

Abstract Conventionally, intelligence is seen as a property of individuals. However, it also known to be collectives. Here, we broaden the idea collective and extend planetary scale. We consider ways in which appearance technological may represent kind scale transition, thus might not something happens on planet but planet, much some models propose origin life itself was phenomenon. Our approach follows recognition among researchers that correct understand key aspects its evolution...

Assembly theory (referred to in prior works as pathway assembly) has been developed explore the extrinsic information required distinguish a given object from random ensemble. In work, we explored key concepts relating deconstructing an into its irreducible parts and then evaluating minimum number of steps rebuild it, allowing for reuse constructed sub-objects. We have also application this approach molecules, molecular assembly, how assembly can be inferred experimentally used life...

The origins of life stands among the great open scientific questions our time. While a number proposals exist for possible starting points in pathway from non-living to living matter, these have so far not achieved states complexity that are anywhere near even simplest systems. A key challenge is identifying properties matter might distinguish and physical systems such we build new lab. This review geared towards covering major viewpoints on origin those field, with forward look considering...

We compare the informational architecture of biological and random networks to identify features that may distinguish from random. The study presented here focuses on Boolean network model for regulation cell cycle fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe . calculated values local global information measures same as applied two different classes networks: Erdös–Rényi scale-free. report patterns in processing storage do indeed random, associated with control nodes regulate function cell-cycle...

Standard techniques for studying biological systems largely focus on their dynamical or, more recently, informational properties, usually taking either a reductionist or holistic perspective. Yet, only individual system elements the dynamics of as whole disregards organizational structure system—whether there are subsets with joint causes effects, and whether is strongly integrated composed several loosely interacting components. Integrated information theory offers theoretical framework to...

The rapid rate of discoveries exoplanets has expanded the scope science possible for remote detection life beyond Earth. Exoplanet Biosignatures Workshop Without Walls (EBWWW) held in 2016 engaged international scientific community across diverse disciplines, to assess state and technology search on exoplanets, identify paths progress. workshop activities resulted five major review papers, which provide (1) an encyclopedic known proposed biosignatures models used ascertain them (Schwieterman...

Significance We show that materials with different structure and function can emerge from the same starting under environmental conditions, such as order of reactant addition or inclusion minerals. The discoveries we report were made possible by using analytical tools more common in omics/systems biology for functional structural characterization, retasked exploring manipulating complex reaction networks. not only demonstrate environments differentiate fixed sets (both mixtures pure amino...

All life on Earth is unified by its use of a shared set component chemical compounds and reactions, providing detailed model for universal biochemistry. However, this notion universality specific to known biochemistry does not allow quantitative predictions about examples yet observed. Here, we introduce more generalizable concept biochemical that akin the kind found in physics. Using annotated genomic datasets including an ensemble 11,955 metagenomes, 1,282 archaea, 11,759 bacteria, 200...

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ARTICLES ASAPPREVFirst ReactionsNEXTMeasuring Molecular ComplexityLeroy Cronin and his team showcase experiments to measure molecular complexity using spectroscopic techniques, applicable in drug discovery, characterizing molecule evolution, life detection.Louie SlocombeLouie SlocombeBeyond Center for Fundamental Concepts Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, 85287-0506, United StatesMore by Louie Slocombe Sara Imari Walker​Sara WalkerSchool of Earth Space...

Many models for the origin of life have focused on understanding how evolution can drive refinement a preexisting enzyme, such as efficient replicase activity. Here we present model what was, arguably, an even earlier stage chemical evolution, when polymer sequence diversity was generated and sustained before, during, onset functional selection. The includes regular environmental cycles (e.g. hydration-dehydration cycles) that polymers between times replication activity, which coincide with...

The current paradigm views cancer as arising clonally from a degradation of genetic information in single cells. A complementary perspective, originating at the dawn modern developmental biology, is that result system disorder algorithms normally orchestrate individual cell activities toward specific anatomical structures and away tumorigenesis. view disease geometry focuses on pathways allow cells to cooperate build maintain large-scale patterning. Cancer may when stop maintaining...

Biological systems represent a unique class of physical in how they process and manage information. This suggests that changes the flow distribution information played prominent role origin life. Here I review expand on an emerging conceptual framework suggesting life may be identified as transition causal structure flow, detail some implications for understanding early stages chemical evolution.

Open-ended evolution (OEE) is relevant to a variety of biological, artificial and technological systems, but has been challenging reproduce in silico. Most theoretical efforts focus on key aspects open-ended as it appears biology. We recast the problem more general one dynamical systems theory, providing simple criteria for based two hallmark features: unbounded innovation. define patterns that are non-repeating within expected Poincare recurrence time an isolated system, innovation...

Studying biochemical networks at a planetary scale reveals deeper level of organization than what has been understood so far.