A Principled Approach to the Origin Problem

Orig Life Evol Biosph. 2015 Sep;45(3):327-38. doi: 10.1007/s11084-015-9444-3. Epub 2015 Jul 16.

Abstract

The key issue of the origin of life is the origin of a complex system rather than the abiotic formation of various organic substances, small and large. To consider this "origin problem" it is advantageous to abstract some principles from biology and statistical physics to guide our approach. Referring to these principles, we aim to construct a chemical system called "protometabolism," which would be a precursor of metabolism.

MeSH terms

  • Evolution, Planetary*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Origin of Life*