An Inherited Efficiencies Model of Non-genomic Evolution

Michael H. New and Andrew Pohorille
Exobiology Branch and Evolutionary Cell Computing Group
NASA Ames Research Center
Mailstop 239-4
Moffett Field, CA 94035

ABSTRACT

A model for the evolution of biological systems in the absence of a nucleic acid-like genome is proposed and applied to model the earliest living organisms -- protocells composed of membrane encapsulated peptides. Assuming that the peptides can make and break bonds between amino acids, and bonds in non-functional peptides are more likely to be destroyed than in functional peptides, it is demonstrated that the catalytic capabilities of the system as a whole can increase. This increase is defined to be non-genomic evolution. The relationship between the proposed mechanism for evolution and recent experiments on self-replicating peptides is discussed.

 

	INTRODUCTION
	THE INHERITED EFFICIENCIES MODEL
	RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
	SUMMARY
	References