Kinetic Models of the Prebiotic Replication of dsRNA under Thermal Cycling Conditions

Abstract

We present computational models for the replication of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) or related macromolecules under thermal cycling conditions that would reflect prebiotic (i.e. non-enzymatic) environments. Two models of the replication of dsRNA are represented as multi-step chemical systems. The objective of this investigation was to better understand the kinetic features of such chemical systems. It is shown that thermal cycling in a chemical system is advantageous (relative to a fixed temperature) if there are two competing reactions, one favored at high temperature and one favored at low temperature. For the prebiotic replication of dsRNA, a high temperature favors formation of the two single stranded RNA (ssRNA) templates and a presumptive catalysis or catalytic surface is active at low temperature at which the ssRNA template is copied. Our models may facilitate understanding possible prebiotic conditions for the replication of dsRNA.

Analysis of a chemical model system leading to chiral symmetry breaking: Implications for the evolution of homochirality

“…Like systems biology and systems engineering, a critical feature of systems chemistry is that unexpected outcomes may arise which may not be predicted from examining the behavior of the individual components of the system. We have studied, both computationally and analytically, several simple chemical systems and have found that complex behavior can arise over time from even simple systems [41][42][43]. Recently we and others have focused on chemical systems to understand the generation of homochirality in prebiotic environments.…”