Handedness, Origin of Life and Evolution

JUL 01, 1991

Biological polymers have a preferred chirality and con replicate themselves. Physical arguments provide insight into which of these unique and apparently related properties evolved first, and by what mechanism.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881264

Vladik A. Avetisov

Vladimir V. Kuz'min

Vitalii I. Goldanskii

At first glance the nucleic acids and proteins that are the basis of life do not stand out in any way among all the possible polymeric structures. If we look at their functions, however, we find one unique feature of these biological polymers: self‐replication, the distinctive property of living systems. What is self‐replication, and how could this biologically primordial property have originated in an unorganized medium? The solution to the problem of life’s origin lies in resolving the paradox of how polymers of rather common structure can exhibit such a distinctive function.

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More about the authors

Vladik A. Avetisov, Laboratory of the Theory of Nonlinear Physicochemical Processes, Semenov Institute.

Vladimir V. Kuz'min, Laboratory of the Theory of Nonlinear Physicochemical Processes, Semenov Institute.

Vitalii I. Goldanskii, N. N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Moscow.