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Heterotrophic Model Protocells

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Genesis - In The Beginning

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 22))

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Abstract

Heterotrophic model protocells are easier to build in the laboratory than autotrophic protocells. Advancements have shown that model heterotrophic systems can grow, divide, copy nucleic acids, and compete for resources. The required component molecules of the system are few and simple, in the sense that only a small number of monomeric species are needed. Polymerization and noncovalent forces under prebiotically plausible conditions result in the assembly of a system that begins to exhibit life-like properties. The data suggest that similar processes may have occurred on prebiotic Earth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIBIO, University of Trento, via delle Regole 101, 38060, Mattarello, Italy

    Cristina Del Bianco & Sheref S. Mansy

Authors
  1. Cristina Del Bianco
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  2. Sheref S. Mansy
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Correspondence to Cristina Del Bianco .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Jerusalem, Mevo Hadas 20, Efrat, 90435, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Del Bianco, C., Mansy, S.S. (2012). Heterotrophic Model Protocells. In: Seckbach, J. (eds) Genesis - In The Beginning. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2941-4_35

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