Self-sustaining multiplication and reproduction of microsystems in protobiogenesis.
The appearance of reproducing microsystems during stimulated protobiogenesis is investigated theoretically, based upon the observation that proteinoid microsystems, which are local aggregates of reacting chemicals, act as reaction nodes. Further splitting of such nodes follows if sufficient growth takes place. Parent-connected daughter nodes thus appear. A parent-connected daughter node rejuvenates itself while its parent node survives, although an extinction of the latter is inevitable in the presence of spontaneous disturbances. The degree of rejuvenation is measured in terms of the molecule intake and dissociation rates at the node. A daughter node grows and matures after the extinction of its parent, and gives rise to second-generation nodes when it grows sufficiently large. The parent node alternates with its parent-connected daughter nodes successively.
D008433:Mathematics; D008863:Microspheres; D008954:Models, Biological; D011506:Proteins
D011506:Proteins