HYPERCYCLES VERSUS PARASITES IN THE ORIGIN OF LIFE - MODEL DEPENDENCEIN SPATIAL HYPERCYCLE SYSTEMS

Spatial hypercycle systems can be modelled by means of cellular automa ta or partial differential equations. In either model, two dimensional spirals or clusters can be formed. Different models give rise to slig htly different spatial structures, but the response to parasites is fu ndamentally different: In cellular automata the hypercycle is resistan t to parasites that are fatal in a partial differential equations mode l. In three dimensions scroll rings correspond to the two dimensional spirals. Numerical simulations on a partial differential equations mod el indicate that the scroll rings are unstable: The contract by a powe r law and disappear. Therefore, in three dimensions clusters seem to b e the best candidate for the hypercycle resistant to parasites.