title: Dynamics of a laterally evolving community of ribozyme-like agents as studied with a rule-based computing system.
abstract: The very early forms of life probably comprised ribozyme-like agents that were able to catalyze reactions and serve as templates for their own replication. The early evolution has also been suggested to occur mainly horizontally between proto-cells or inorganic compartments rather than vertically from parent cell to their dividing siblings. In order to study the evolutionary dynamics of such a community a rule-based computing system entitled as PrimordialEvo was developed. The system simulates a three dimensional matrix of compartments in which replicators, resource collectors and various other actors thrive. Horizontal movement between compartments may be due to genetically induced vesicle formation or random drift. Analysis of the simulation experiments suggests that active sharing of innovations between compartments is important for the overall reproductive success of life. The capability of natural selection to favor genes in the system was also tested, and, for example, the frequency of anti-parasites was observed to increase when parasites were allowed to emerge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, POBox 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland. matti.jalasvuori@jyu.fi
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jalasvuori
authors.forename: Maija P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jalasvuori
authors.forename: Jaana K H
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bamford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D000069497:Origin of Life; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics*; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic