SPATIAL DYNAMICS OF A MODEL FOR PREBIOTIC EVOLUTION

The selective properties of a population formed by RNA-like molecules (replicators) with catalytic capabilities are analyzed in an extended system. The population evolves in a closed reactor and is kept far fro m equilibrium by means of a recycling reaction that transforms the deg radation products of the replicators into energy rich monomers, from w hich the species are built up. In the limit of infinite diffusion, for a particular set of parameters the system exhibits tristability betwe en chaos and two fixed points. Under this setup, numerical techniques are used to prove the formation of spatial patterns when finite diffus ion forces are taken into account in one- and two-dimensional spaces. Finally, the relevance of these results is discussed within a prebioti c framework.