Spontaneous emergence of chirality in systems of self-replicating molecules

Sijbren Otto explores how features associated with life can arise from initially lifeless chemical components. The systems couple reversible oligomerization of comparatively simple molecular building blocks with self-assembly. Their behavior includes the spontaneous appearance of self-replicating molecules, catalytic activity extending beyond autocatalysis, and the breaking of chiral symmetry. These observations connect the emergence of molecular replication and catalysis with the origins of biological handedness.