A SELF-REPLICATING SYSTEM FROM 3 STARTING MATERIALS

The reaction scheme may resemble a circuit diagram, but it actually re presents a self-replicating system consisting of a trimeric, a dimeric , and a monomeric building block. The trimeric to hexameric deoxynucle otide derivatives arise in the presence of a carbodiimide and exhibit catalytic, cross catalytic, and autocatalytic template effects that fe ed back into the various 'synthesis pathways. The major product is a t etramer that is formed preferably in a nonautocatalytic reaction path. In the autocatalytic pathway this product is exclusively ''egoistic'' , whereas the pentamer and hexamer enter into an ''altruistic'' relati onship and ''socialize'' (i.e. thus behave as a molecujar ensemble).