Abstract
Abstract Highly accurate self-replication of cellular phenotype is a requirement for biological evolution. I previously investigated the degree of self-replication fidelity needed in a viable, evolving population of living cells. Here I present a phase transition approach from non-living chemical complexity to evolving living creatures and illustrate the necessary non-continuity of whatever process led to the origin of evolution. A theoretical approach to the relationship between replication fidelity, survival probability and the capacity to grow and evolve is presented consistent with previous data from experimental simulations. The implications for the origin of life to include explanations for non-continuity are discussed.
Highlights
Evolution and Inheritance Inheritance is a crucial component of the evolutionary process, as stressed by Darwin: “But if variations useful to any organic being do occur, assuredly such individuals characterized will have the best chance of being preserved in the struggle for life; and from the strong principle of inheritance they will tend to produce offspring characterized” (1 [emphasis added])
Since the cell phenotype is the target of natural selection, a mechanism to replicate the phenotype is critical to allow for evolution by natural selection
The requirement for minimal replication fidelity to allow for survival and evolution in early cells with a minimal size of replicating informational nucleic acid has been estimated to be equal to 1-(1/L), where L is the length of the information molecule polymer
Summary
Evolution and Inheritance Inheritance is a crucial component of the evolutionary process, as stressed by Darwin: “But if variations useful to any organic being do occur, assuredly such individuals characterized will have the best chance of being preserved in the struggle for life; and from the strong principle of inheritance they will tend to produce offspring characterized” (1 [emphasis added]). Evolution requires that alleles be inherited in order for the “over time” part of the definition to hold. It is the inherited alleles (the variations in specific genes) that determine all the characteristics of the organism (the phenotype), which in turn are the targets of natural selection
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