Mechanisms of Emergence: How Life-Like Functions Emerge in Chemical Networks

Explore a seminar lecture that delves into the fundamental mechanisms through which life-like functions emerge from chemical networks. Learn from Professor Sijbren Otto of the University of Groningen as he examines how essential functions of life can spontaneously develop from simple molecular mixtures. Discover the progression from basic self-replication to catalysis and primitive metabolism, including the formation of cell-like compartments that house self-replicators. Gain insights into how these chemical systems can undergo rudimentary Darwinian evolution, exhibiting life-like behaviors such as niche partitioning and eco-evolutionary dynamics. Understand the broader implications for origin-of-life research, moving beyond the traditional focus on prebiotic building blocks to explore the emergence of complex biological functions from lifeless molecules.