Phenotypic diversity and chaos in a minimal cell model

J Theor Biol. 2006 Jun 7;240(3):434-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2005.10.013. Epub 2005 Dec 5.

Abstract

Gánti's chemoton model (Gánti, T., 2002. On the early evolution of biological periodicity. Cell. Biol. Int. 26, 729) is considered as an iconic example of a minimal protocell including three key subsystems: membrane, metabolism and information. The three subsystems are connected through stoichiometrical coupling which ensures the existence of a replication cycle for the chemoton. Our detailed exploration of a version of this model indicates that it displays a wide range of complex dynamics, from regularity to chaos. Here, we report the presence of a very rich set of dynamical patterns potentially displayed by a protocell as described by this implementation of a chemoton-like model. The implications for early cellular evolution and synthesis of artificial cells are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Physiological Phenomena*
  • Models, Biological
  • Nonlinear Dynamics*
  • Origin of Life*
  • Phenotype