A SELF-REPLICATING SYSTEM FROM 3 STARTING MATERIALS

The reaction scheme may resemble a circuit diagram, but it actually represents a self-replicating system consisting of a trimeric, a dimeric, and a monomeric building block. The trimeric to hexameric deoxynucleotide derivatives arise in the presence of a carbodiimide and exhibit catalytic, cross catalytic, and autocatalytic template effects that feed back into the various 'synthesis pathways. The major product is a tetramer that is formed preferably in a nonautocatalytic reaction path. In the autocatalytic pathway this product is exclusively ''egoistic'', whereas the pentamer and hexamer enter into an ''altruistic'' relationship and ''socialize'' (i.e. thus behave as a molecujar ensemble).