While origins was undoubtedly a combination of geological, environmental, and chemical constraints and opportunities, the key event was nonetheless likely the self-replication of an informational biopolymer.  In the absence of this 'identity function' (the ability to exponentially amplify a given chemical composition), it is difficult to conceive of a system that resembles or could directly seed modern life forms.  We will examine a plausible prebiotic path from nucleic acid replicators to cells, and using our own experimental examples will point out the extraordinary difficulties that self-replicators faced along the way.  However, these difficulties will serve primarily to re-emphasize the critical conceptual and experimental impact of obtaining an 'identity function.'  In particular, we will examine how parasitism likely forced a molecular 'tragedy of the commons' that in turn led to cellularization and / or exponential replication.

Difficulty of self-replication

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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