Origins and Evolution of Life

Mechanical interaction enables a collective mode of protocell proliferation

This study shows that protocell colonies grow under spatial confinement through mechanical shearing, while isolated protocells rupture due to surface-volume imbalance.

Experimental evolution toward extinction in a molecular host-parasite system

This study shows that co-evolution between host and parasitic RNA replicators can lead to diversity loss and frequent extinctions under specific dilution conditions.

Compositional memory matters for early molecular systems

This study develops a framework to model coevolution of molecular replicators and parasites with transient compartmentalization, showing compositional memory influences early molecular system dynamics.

Influence of phosphate activation chemistry on the selection of the primordial genetic alphabet

This study compares two phosphate-activation chemistries' effects on nucleotide modifications, showing that primordial nucleotides are more susceptible to modification, which may explain the selection of the canonical genetic alphabet.

Enhanced RNA Formation Under Amine-Rich Local Atmospheres from 2',3'- Cyclic Nucleotides

This study shows that ammonium and alkylammonium counterions enhance RNA polymerization from 2,3-cyclic nucleotides under dry, geologically plausible conditions.

Morphological comparison between cell-like entities from mammalian tissues and Precambrian microfossils

The paper compares cell-like entities from mammalian tissues with Precambrian microfossils, finding morphological and biochemical similarities suggesting biologically active systems in both.

Composition and higher-order structure in nucleic acids sequenced from a chondrite

The paper analyzes nucleic acid sequences from the Zag meteorite, showing they lack biological coding features but exhibit constrained complexity, suggesting non-biological or unknown origins.

Hydration-dehydration cycles drive compartment dynamics in minimal protocells

This study shows hydration-dehydration cycles drive compartment dynamics in minimal protocells without chemical reactions or metabolism.

A ribozyme mass extinction at the RNA-cellular boundary and its potential imprint on the genetic code

This paper proposes that a ribozyme mass extinction 3.9-3.8 billion years ago shaped the genetic code through ecological and evolutionary mechanisms.

Restricted amino acid diversity alters enzymatic phosphoryl-transfer catalysis

This study shows that restricting amino acid diversity can replace native enzymatic activity with an alternative phosphoryl-transfer reaction in a reconstructed ancestral nucleoside diphosphate kinase.

Non-enzymatic error correction in self-replicators without extraneous energy supply

This paper presents a theoretical model of error correction in self-replicating systems that does not require enzymes or external energy, demonstrating kinetic discrimination and error ratios similar to biological processes.

A polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize both itself and its complementary strand

The paper describes a ribozyme that can synthesize both itself and its complementary strand, suggesting polymerase ribozymes may be more common in RNA sequence space.

Quantifying biomarker ambiguity using metabolic network analysis

The paper quantifies biomarker ambiguity using metabolic network analysis and introduces three metrics to evaluate biomarker specificity across 9,140 metabolites.

Sequence motif dynamics in RNA pools

The paper develops a reduced motif space model to capture the dynamics of RNA pools, showing it can capture important aspects of sequence space dynamics.

Resurrected nitrogenases recapitulate canonical N-isotope biosignatures over two billion years

The paper resurrects ancient nitrogenase enzymes and shows their nitrogen isotope signatures are similar to modern ones, suggesting evolutionary invariance and supporting the use of N-isotope biosignatures for detecting life.

Simple case of prebiotic evolution: vesicle populations can respond to selection for greater turbidity via emergent cooperative dynamics

This study shows that fatty acid vesicle populations can respond to artificial selection for turbidity through cooperative dynamics, not just carryover effects.

Growth, dissolution and segregation of genetically encoded RNA droplets by ribozyme catalysis

This paper demonstrates genetically encoded RNA droplets that can dissolve, segregate, and regrow through ribozyme catalysis, establishing a minimal cycle for synthetic life.

A food chain of ribozymes built on an ancestral strand

The paper constructs a model of RNA-based food chain interactions using ancestral RNA strands found in Dead Sea sinkholes, showing competitive dynamics and environmental sensitivity.

5' RNA Aminoacylation via Interstrand Acyl-Transfer

This paper describes a catalytic RNA-based aminoacylation reaction that forms a more stable 5'-aminoacyl RNA linkage, potentially enabling prebiotic RNA-directed peptide synthesis.

ChemOrigins: A community curated database for origins of life chemistry

ChemOrigins is a community-curated database that organizes experimentally supported prebiotic reactions into a knowledge graph for research and education.

Coenzyme-Protein Interactions since Early Life

This study examines protein-coenzyme interactions in the Protein Data Bank to assess the plausibility of early peptide-cofactor collaborations before the Central Dogma.

First growth, then information: the path to genetic heredity in protocells

This paper develops a mathematical model showing that growth-supporting functions evolved before informational processes in protocells, establishing a fundamental constraint on the origin of genetic heredity.

Impact of 2'-deoxyribo-purine substrates on nonenzymatic RNA template-directed primer extension

This study examines how 2'-deoxyribo-purine substitutions affect RNA duplex stability and nonenzymatic template-directed primer extension.

Mineral guided molecular enrichment: An interfacial driving force for protocell emergence on early Earth

This study shows that mineral surfaces can facilitate the formation of protocell-like assemblies by co-adsorbing and organizing biomolecules, supporting metabolic activity and compartment formation.

Emergent Chemical Reactivity and Complexity of RNA Condensates

This study investigates RNA condensates formed at acidic pH, showing they compartmentalize biomolecules, enhance reaction rates, and act as microreactors with catalytic activity, supporting the RNA world hypothesis.

Prebiotically Plausible Peptides can Self-assemble into beta-rich Assemblies

This study shows random 25-mer peptides with a prebiotically plausible amino acid alphabet can self-assemble into thermostable beta-rich nanostructures.

The dinucleotide structure of NAD enables specific reduction on mineral surfaces

This paper investigates the reduction of NAD and NMN on mineral surfaces under abiotic conditions, showing NAD's specificity and the role of the AMP tail in preventing overreduction.

Toward Stable Replication of Genomic Information in Pools of RNA Molecules

This paper analyzes the Virtual Circular Genome (VCG) model for prebiotic replication, showing that increasing long oligomer length and reducing their concentration improves replication fidelity.

A stoichiometric selection advantage of DNA genomes over RNA genomes

This study shows DNA genomes had a stoichiometric selection advantage over RNA genomes in early life, due to efficiency in macromolecular composition, not chemical stability.

Dynamical interactions among compositionally distinct protocell populations and its implications for evolution of early membranes

This study examines interactions between different protocell populations and shows how coexistence leads to emergent properties and evolutionary trajectories in early membrane systems.