Evolutionary dynamics of RNA-like replicator systems: A bioinformatic approach to the origin of life(Review)

摘要

We review computational studies on prebiotic evolution, focusing on informatic processes in RNA-like replicator systems.In particular, we consider the following processes: the maintenance of information by replicators with and without interactions, the acquisition of information by replicators having a complex genotype-phenotype map, the generation of information by replicators having a complex genotype-phenotype-interaction map, and the storage of information by replicators serving as dedicated templates.Focusing on these informatic aspects, we review studies on quasi-species, error threshold, RNA-folding genotype-phenotype map, hypercycle, multilevel selection(including spatial self-organization, classical group selection, and compartmentalization), and the origin of DNA-like replicators.In conclusion, we pose a future question for theoretical studies on the origin of life.