caa a22 4500 477067182 CHVBK 20180405111415.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170330e19960101xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/BF02458282 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/BF02458282 Davis Brian Research Foundation of Southern California, 5580 La Jolla Boulevard, 92037, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A. aut A theory of evolution that includes prebiotic self-organization and episodic species formation [Elektronische Daten] [Brian Davis] A theory has been proposed that encompasses pre-replication changes in RNA synthesis and non-gradual variant formation, in addition to competitive replication. Using a fundamental theorem of natural selection and maximum principle scaled to nucleotide condensation, evolutionin vitro was demonstrated to maximally damp both kinetic and thermodynamic forces driving this reaction, from its pre-replication stage. This led to the finding that evolution follows a path of least action. These principles form the framework for a general theory of evolution, whose scope extends beyond evolution modeled by synthesis of non-interacting RNA molecules. It applies, in particular, to standard processes, such as competitive crystallization. In calculations simulatingde novo formation of self-replicating RNA molecules in the Qβ replicase system, spontaneous changes in strand secondary structure promoted the transition from random copolymerization to template-directed polymerization. This finding indicates selection preceded genome self-propagation. Non-gradual species formation was attributed to the presence of heterogeneous thermodynamic forces. Growth unconstrained by competition follows mutation to a variant able to utilize a free energy source alien to its progenitors. Evolution in a heterogeneous system can, therefore, exhibit discontinuous rates of species formation and spawn new species populations. Natural selection among competing self-propagators thus gives way to a principle of wider scope stating that evolution optimally damps the physicochemical forces causing change within an evolving system. Society for Mathematical Biology, 1996 Bulletin of Mathematical Biology Kluwer Academic Publishers 58/1(1996-01-01), 65-97 0092-8240 58:1<65 1996 58 11538 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02458282 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02458282 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 100 1- Davis Brian Research Foundation of Southern California, 5580 La Jolla Boulevard, 92037, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Bulletin of Mathematical Biology Kluwer Academic Publishers 58/1(1996-01-01), 65-97 0092-8240 58:1<65 1996 58 11538 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer