dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaRandom autocatalytic networks
| Authors | Elchanan Mossel, Mike Steel |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0406044 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0406044 |
Abstract
We determine conditions under which a random biochemical system is likely to contain a subsystem that is both autocatalytic and able to survive on some ambient `food' source. Such systems have previously been investigated for their relevance to origin-of-life models. In this paper we extend earlier work, by finding precisely the order of catalysation required for the emergence of such self-sustaining autocatalytic networks. This answers questions raised in earlier papers, yet also allows for a more general class of models. We also show that a recently-described polynomial time algorithm for determining whether a catalytic reaction system contains an autocatalytic, self-sustaining subsystem is unlikely to adapt to allow inhibitory catalysation - in this case we show that the associated decision problem is NP-complete.
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"date_created": "2026-03-02T18:01:32.232000Z",
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"abstract": "We determine conditions under which a random biochemical system is likely to\ncontain a subsystem that is both autocatalytic and able to survive on some\nambient `food\u0027 source. Such systems have previously been investigated for their\nrelevance to origin-of-life models. In this paper we extend earlier work, by\nfinding precisely the order of catalysation required for the emergence of such\nself-sustaining autocatalytic networks. This answers questions raised in\nearlier papers, yet also allows for a more general class of models. We also\nshow that a recently-described polynomial time algorithm for determining\nwhether a catalytic reaction system contains an autocatalytic, self-sustaining\nsubsystem is unlikely to adapt to allow inhibitory catalysation - in this case\nwe show that the associated decision problem is NP-complete.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0406044",
"authors": [
"Elchanan Mossel",
"Mike Steel"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.MN",
"math.CO",
"q-bio.PE"
],
"title": "Random autocatalytic networks",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0406044"
},
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"source": {
"execution_id": "d330fdaa-673f-41a5-9c08-ab50aa427e5c",
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"type": "Model",
"variant": "snapshot-2026-03-01",
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