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Evolutionary transition from a single RNA replicator to a multiple replicator network

View ORCID ProfileRyo Mizuuchi, Taro Furubayashi, Norikazu Ichihashi
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.09.459571
Ryo Mizuuchi
1Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
2JST, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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  • ORCID record for Ryo Mizuuchi
  • For correspondence: mizuuchi@bio.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp ichihashi@bio.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Taro Furubayashi
3Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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Norikazu Ichihashi
1Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
4Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
5Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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  • For correspondence: mizuuchi@bio.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp ichihashi@bio.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp
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Abstract

In prebiotic evolution, self-replicating molecules are believed to have evolved into complex living systems by expanding their information and functions open-endedly. Theoretically, such evolutionary complexification could occur through successive appearance of novel replicators that interact with one another to form replication networks. Here we performed long-term evolution experiments using an RNA that replicates by a self-encoded RNA replicase. The RNA diversified into multiple coexisting host and parasite lineages, whose frequencies in the population initially fluctuated and gradually stabilized. The final population, comprising five RNA lineages, forms a replicator network with diverse interactions, including cooperation to help the replication of all other members. These results support the capability of molecular replicators to spontaneously develop complexity through Darwinian evolution, a critical step for the emergence of life.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Posted September 09, 2021.
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Evolutionary transition from a single RNA replicator to a multiple replicator network
Ryo Mizuuchi, Taro Furubayashi, Norikazu Ichihashi
bioRxiv 2021.09.09.459571; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.09.459571
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Evolutionary transition from a single RNA replicator to a multiple replicator network
Ryo Mizuuchi, Taro Furubayashi, Norikazu Ichihashi
bioRxiv 2021.09.09.459571; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.09.459571

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