DYNAMICS OF SMALL AUTOCATALYTIC REACTION NETWORKS .2. REPLICATION, MUTATION AND CATALYSIS

Mutation is introduced into autocatalytic reaction networks. The diffe rential equations obtained are neither of repliator-type nor can they be transformed straightway into a linear equation. Examples of low dim ensional dynamical systems-n = 2, 3 and 4-are discussed and complete q ualitative analysis is presented. Error thresholds known from simple r eplication-mutation kinetics with frequency independent replication ra tes occur here as well. Instead of cooperative transitions or higher o rder phase transitions the thresholds appear here as supercritical or subcritical bifurcations being analogous to first-order phase transiti ons.