Abstract
Simple replicating molecules are likely to have played a critical role in the origin of life. Recent experiments show that non-enzymatic replication is conceivable in a wide range of synthetic chemical systems. The challenge now facing these studies is how to develop information-coding systems from simple prebiotic precursors.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
von Kiedrowski, G. Angew. Chem. int. Ed. Engl. 25, 932–935 (1986).
von Kiedrowski, G., Wlotzka, B. & Helbing, J. Angew. Chem. int. Ed. Engl. 28, 1235–1237 (1989).
von Kiedrowski, G., Wlotzka, B., Helbing, J. Matzen, M. & Jordan, S. Angew. Chem. int. Ed. Engl. 30, 423–426 (1991).
Tjivikua, T., Ballester, P. & Rebek, Jr J. J. Am. chem. Soc. 112, 1249–1250 (1990).
Rotello, V., Hong, J.-I. & Rebek Jr, J. J. Am. chem. Soc. 113, 9422–9423 (1991).
Nowick, J. S., Feng, Q., Tjivikua, T., Ballester, P. & Rebek Jr, J. J. Am. chem. Soc. 113, 8831–8839 (1991).
Rebek, Jr J. Chem. Ind. 1992(3), 171–174 (1992).
Hong, J.-I., Feng, Q., Rotello, V. & Rebek, Jr J. Science 255, 848–850 (1992).
Feng, Q., Park, T. K. & Rebek Jr, J. Science (in the press).
Joyce, G. F., Schwartz, A. W., Miller, S. L. & Orgel, L. E. Proc. Natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 4398–4402 (1987).
Joyce, G. F. in Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quantitative Biology, Vol. LII, 41–51 (Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York, 1987).
Mizuno, T. & Weiss, A. H. in Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry (eds Tipson, R. S. & Horton, D.) 173–227 (Academic, New York, 1974).
Bonner, W. A. Origins Life 21, 59–111 (1991).
Jacques, J., Collet, A. & Wilen, S. H. Enantiomers, Racemates, and Resolutions (Krieger, Malabar, Florida, 1991).
Kondepudi, D. K., Kaufman, R. J. & Singh, N. Science 250, 975–976 (1990).
Morowitz, J. J., Heinz, B. & Deamer, D. W. Origins Life 18, 281–287 (1988).
Luisi, P. L. & Varela, F. J. Origins Life 19, 633–643 (1989).
Bachmann, P. A., Walde, P., Luisi, P. L. & Lang, J. J. Am. chem. Soc. 112, 8200–8201 (1990).
Bachmann, P. A., Luisi, P. L. & Lang, J. Nature 357, 57–59 (1992).
Spiegelman, S. Q. Rev. Biophys. 4, 213–253 (1971).
Biebricher, C. K. in Evolutionary Biology, Vol. 16 (eds Hechet, M. K., Wallace, B. & Prance, G. T.) (Plenum, New York, 1983).
von Kiedrowski, G. in 40 Jahre Fonds der Chemischen Industrie 1950–1990, 197–218 (Verband der Chemischen Industrie, Frankfurt, 1990).
von Kiedrowski, G. et al. Nachr. Chem. Tech. Lab. (in the press).
Doudna, J. A., Couture, S. & Szostak, J. W. Science 251, 1605–1610 (1991).
Terfort, A. & von Kiedrowski, G. Angew. Chem. int. Ed. Engl. 31 (in the press).
Inoue, T. & Orgel, L. E. J. Am. chem. Soc. 103, 7666–7667 (1981).
Inoue, T. & Orgel, L. E. Science 219, 859–862 (1983).
Wu, T. & Orgel, L. E. J. Am. chem. Soc. 114 (in the press).
Acevedo, O. L. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 197, 187–193 (1987).
Kang, CH., Zhang, X., Ratliff, R., Moyzis, R. & Rich, A. Nature 356, 126–131 (1992).
Challa, G. & Tan, Y. Y. Pure appl. Chem. 53, 627–641 (1981).
van de Grampel, H. T., Tuin, G., Tan, Y. Y. & Challa, G. Macromolecules 25, 1049–1056 (1992).
Ballard, D. G. H. & Bamford, C. H. Proc. R. Soc. A236, 384 (1956).
Bamford, C. H. in Reactions on Polymers, Proc. NATO Adv. Study Inst. (ed. Moore, J. A.) 54–60 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1973).
Shapiro, R. Origins. A Skeptic's Guide to the Creation of Life on Earth (Summit, New York, 1986).
Müller, D. et al. Helv. chim. Acta 73, 1410–1468 (1990).
Joyce, G. F. et al. Nature 310, 602–604 (1984).
Hill Jr, A. R., Nord, L. D., Orgel, L. E. & Robins, R. K. J. molec. Evol. 28, 170–171 (1989).
Visscher, J. & Schwartz, A. W. J. molec. Evol. 26, 291–293 (1987).
Harada, K. & Orgel, L. E. Origins Life 20, 151–160 (1990).
Harada, K. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Evol. 32, 358–359 (1991).
Brack, A., Ehler, K. W. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Evol. 8, 307–310 (1976).
Joyce, G. F. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 188, 433–441 (1986).
Joyce, G. F., Inoue, T. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 176, 279–306 (1984).
Eigen, M. Naturwissenschaften 58, 465–532 (1971).
Kaufmann, S. A. J. theor. Biol. 119, 1 (1986).
Wächtershäuser, G. Microbiol. Rev. 52, 452–484 (1988).
De Duve, C. Blueprint for a Cell: The Nature and Origin of Life (Patterson, Burlington, North Carolina, 1991).
von Kiedrowski, G. et al. Origins Life 22 (in the press).
Cairns-Smith, A. G. Genetic Takeover and the Mineral Origins of Life (Cambridge Univ. Press. 1982).
Cairns-Smith, A. G. & Davies, C. J. in Encyclopaedia of Ignorance (eds Duncan, R. & Weston-Smith, M.) 391–403 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1977).
Weber, A. L. Origins Life 17, 107–119 (1987).
Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 38, 381–393 (1968).
Weber, A. L. Origins Life 19, 179–186 (1989).
Nelsestuen, G. L. J. molec. Evol. 15, 59–72 (1980).
Schwartz, A. W. & Orgel, L. E. Science 228, 585–587 (1985).
Egholm, M., Buchardt, O., Nielsen, P. E. & Berg, R. H. J. Am. chem. Soc. 114, 1895–1897 (1992).
Bosscher, F., Ten Brinker, G. & Challa, G. Macromolecules 15, 1442–1444 (1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Orgel, L. Molecular replication. Nature 358, 203–209 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/358203a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/358203a0
This article is cited by
-
From autocatalysis to survival of the fittest in self-reproducing lipid systems
Nature Reviews Chemistry (2023)
-
Solvent-free autocatalytic supramolecular polymerization
Nature Materials (2022)
-
Modified nucleic acids: replication, evolution, and next-generation therapeutics
BMC Biology (2020)
-
From self-replication to replicator systems en route to de novo life
Nature Reviews Chemistry (2020)
-
Traceless native chemical ligation of lipid-modified peptide surfactants by mixed micelle formation
Nature Communications (2020)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
