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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 28: Statistical Physics in Biological Systems IV (joint DY, BP)
BP 28.1: Vortrag
Donnerstag, 17. März 2011, 14:00–14:15, ZEU 260
Evolution of complex chemical mixtures: a problem linked to the origin of life — •Eva Wollrab1, Sabrina Scherer1, Christian Lay1, Manuel Worst1, Philipp Zimmer2, Karsten Kruse2, and Albrecht Ott1 — 1Universität des Saarlandes, Biologische Experimentalphysik, 66123 Saarbrücken — 2Universität des Saarlandes, Theoretische Biologische Physik, 66123 Saarbrücken
How self-reproducing structures can form in a chemical mixture and how a steady increase in biochemical complexity of these cycles may occur is still unknown. We approach this question experimentally from two different directions.
In the first class of experiments highly reactive, primitive compounds are mixed. We track the temporal development of the mixture using mass spectroscopy for analysis. Tools from bioinformatics help us to develop ideas about the underlying chemical network.
The second class of experiments employs DNA. The DNA is designed to form autocatalytic reaction pathways. These experiments are designed to inductively find new conditions for self-reproducing chemical cycles. We suggest that this situation can be simulated in silico by autocatalytic reactions that exhibit fluctuations of the reaction pathways.