title: Did template-directed nucleation precede molecular replication?
abstract: It is proposed that mononucleotides incorporated into the surfaces of microcrystals of inorganic phosphates such as hydroxyapatite can act as templates to assemble complementary mononucleotides from solution, and that the phosphate groups of the assembled nucleotides can facilitate nucleation of a second hydroxyapatite crystal. This would provide a mechanism of replication that is subject to natural selection. The possible role of a replicating system of this kind in the origins of life on the earth is discussed.
mesh_terms: D004261:DNA Replication; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009711:Nucleotides; D000069497:Origin of Life; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D009711:Nucleotides