Handedness, Origin of Life and Evolution
- 1 July 1991
- journal article
- Published by AIP Publishing in Physics Today
- Vol. 44 (7) , 33-41
- https://doi.org/10.1063/1.881264
Abstract
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 polymericstructures. 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. 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.Keywords
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