Replication of proto-RNAs sustained by ligase-helicase cycle in oligomer world

TL;DR

This paper proposes a mechanism for proto-RNA replication in the oligomer world, involving a ligase-helicase cycle, supported by computer simulations showing increased diversity and complexity, which are essential for evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a novel replication cycle model for proto-RNAs in the oligomer world, supported by computational evidence of diversity and complexity development.

Findings

The proposed cycle can replicate proto-RNAs in primordial conditions.

Computer simulations show increased diversity and complexity of products.

The cycle potentially explains early evolutionary processes.

Abstract

A mechanism of the replication of proto-RNAs in oligomer world is proposed. The replication is carried out by a minimum cycle which is sustained by a ligase and a helicase. We expect that such a cycle actually worked in the primordial soup and can be constructed in vitro. By computer simulation the products of the replication acquires diversity and complexity. Such diversity and complexity are the bases of the evolution.