Abstract
The most conspicuous attribute of biological organization is its complexity. We see this especially clearly when we come down to the level of molecular detail. The physical problem of the origin of life can be reduced to the question: “Is there a mechanism by means of which complexity can be generated in a regular, reproducible way ?”. One way of regarding the origin of biological complexity as a process obeying natural law was put forward, 120 years ago, by Charles Darwin. His theses can be formulated in modern terms as follows:
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Complex systems arise by an evolutionary process.
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Evolution is based upon natural selection.
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Natural selection is a physical consequence of self-reproduction.
This manuscript is based on a lecture first given by M. Eigen at the meeting of the “Schweizerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft” at Davos on 25th September, 1981, and was published in the proceedings of the meeting.
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Eigen, M., Winkler-Oswatitsch, R. (1983). The Origin and Evolution of Life at the Molecular Level. In: Hélène, C. (eds) Structure, Dynamics, Interactions and Evolution of Biological Macromolecules. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6_26
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6_26
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