The chemistry of materials for artificial Darwinian systems

Cairns-smith, A. G.

doi:10.1080/01442358809353213

Cited by 20Origins and Evolution of LifeEvolution and Genetic DynamicsCrystal Structures and Properties

The chemistry of materials for artificial Darwinian systems

Cairns-smith, A. G.·1988·International Reviews in Physical Chemistry

DOI 10.1080/01442358809353213

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Abstract

The best materials for artificial systems able to evolve under natural selection are unlikely to be the same as for natural organisms. This is so particularly for genetic materials, where the overriding need for high fidelity of replication points to crystal growth processes as providing the key part of the mechanism rather than organic polymerizations. The genetic information would then have to be in the form of an aperiodic structure based on some relatively simple crystal defect capable of an immense number of permutations. Here I discuss particularly polytypism and related intergrowth phenomena, using a number of examples to illustrate suitable and unsuitable features.

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Polymers can eventually end up strongly bound to a surface, becoming an evolutionary dead end.
“In this context, despite the potential information that can be stored in these monolayers and the relevance of surfaces to facilitate polymerization [131], polymers can eventually end up strongly bound to the surface, becoming an evolutionary dead end.”
From Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems (2024) · cites this paper as [131]

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Robust self-replication of combinatorial information via crystal growth and scission
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Authors: Cairns-smith, A. G.
Affiliations: University of Glasgow (GB)
Corresponding author: Cairns-smith, A. G.
Venue: International Reviews in Physical Chemistry
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 1988-07
Volume: 7
Issue: 3
Pages: 209-250
ISSN: 0144-235X (ISSN-L)
1366-591X
DOI: 10.1080/01442358809353213
OpenAlex: W2037097678
Cited by: 20
References: 129
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 0.00
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: International Reviews in Physical Chemistry (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials › Crystal Structures and Properties
Keywords: genetic material, crystal growth, replication fidelity, polytypism, intergrowth, crystal defects, aperiodic structures, natural selection

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The chemistry of materials for artificial Darwinian systems

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