TRR 392: Molecular evolution in prebiotic environments

益生菌环境中的分子如何创造出强大的达尔文进化，并创造出生命的第一个序列信息？该项目汇集了包括地球科学、化学、生物物理学、生物化学和理论在内的广泛领域的专业知识，以解决这个古老的问题。我们的目标是回答以下关键问题：(I)触发RNA分子进化需要哪些化学、物理和地质约束？(Ii)从RNA的化学进化到序列的达尔文进化的原始选择压力是什么？(Iii)我们能否为分子的自主进化创造一种新的生物技术？(4)我们的实验能定义其他行星上早期生命的要求吗？达尔文进化论要求分子携带信息，对变异和选择持开放态度，并与现代生物学联系在一起。RNA从一开始就是生物学的选择，也是生命起源领域的焦点。不同于该领域单一学科的传统方法，我们将RNA合成、齐聚、链分离和复制集成在一起，并将它们与氨基酸结合起来实现翻译。只有这样，我们才能揭示选择RNA而不是所有其他可能的信息分子的化学进化。在研究领域A：面向功能的复制和选择，我们将探索实现RNA复制、变异、选择和链分离的分子循环的新机制，以推动分子进化。在研究领域B：推动分子进化的环境中，我们将研究能够为系统提供营养、支持催化、允许在非平衡环境中划分以推动进化的环境。结合起来，我们将专注于自主和合作的战略和方法，以解决分子进化的长期目标，通过进化培育功能。这一《儿童权利公约》在整个十二年期间的长期目标是双重的。首先，实验室实验即将实现自主分子进化的第一步，但缺乏综合的跨学科贡献。其次，天体物理学将为我们提供在实验室实验中探索系外行星生命起源的信息。我们的CRC将导致我们在理解分子生命如何在益生菌条件下出现的方面取得重大进展。

How could molecules in a prebiotic setting have created robust Darwinian evolution and created the first sequence information of Life? This CRC brings together expertise from a wide range of fields, including geosciences, chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry and theory, to bring this age-old question to a solution. We aim to answer the following key questions: (i) What chemical, physical, and geological constraints are required to trigger the molecular evolution of RNA? (ii) What are the primitive selection pressures that bridge from chemical evolution of RNA to the Darwinian evolution of sequences? (iii) Can we create a novel biotechnology for the autonomous evolution of molecules? (iv) Can our experiments define the requirements for early life on other planets? Darwinian evolution requires a molecule that carries information, is open to variation and selection and links to modern biology. RNA has been the choice of biology and the focus of the Origins of Life field from the beginning. Unlike traditional approaches of single disciplines in the field, we will integrate RNA synthesis, oligomerization, strand-separation and replication and combine them with amino acids to achieve translation. Only this way, we will be able to reveal the chemical evolution that chose RNA over all other possible information molecules. In Research Area A: Replication and Selection towards Function, we will explore novel mechanisms to implement the molecular cycle of RNA replication, variation, selection, and strand separation to drive molecular evolution. In Research Area B: Environments that drive Molecular Evolution, we will study environments that can feed the system, support catalysis, allow compartmentalization in non-equilibrium settings to drive evolution. In combination, we will focus on autonomous and cooperative strategies and methods to address molecular evolution with the long-term goal to breed function through evolution. The long-term goal of this CRC for the full duration of twelve years is twofold. First, laboratory experiments are on the verge of implementing the first steps of autonomous molecular evolution, but lack the combined cross-disciplinary contributions. Second, astrophysics will provide us with information to probe origins of life of exoplanets in lab experiments. Our CRC will lead to major advances in our understanding of how molecular life could have emerged under prebiotic conditions.