A modified cellular automata model of nucleotide interactions and non-enzymatic transcription of DNA

Abstract

An important stage in the development of living systems on Earth was the formation of RNA-like molecules capable of self-transcripting and self-replicating. In this paper, the authors attempt to develop a simple, flexible and accurate computer model of nucleotide interactions that lead to the non-enzymatic transcription of an oligonucleotide that acts as a template to catalyze the formation of a suite of oligonucleotides. The authors' computer model is cellular automata based and allows nucleotides to experience random movement and interact locally to associate with a template and/or oligomerize with other nucleotides according to a set of rules. To test the simulation method, results were compared to specific laboratory experimental results. The hypotheses were that the best set of rules developed would be able to produce results which were: 1. More similar to the laboratory experiment's results than random rules; 2. More similar to the laboratory experiment's results than a set of rules which is chemically realistic but has random probabilities; and 3. Statistically similar to the laboratory experiment's results. The test for determining whether the results were statistically similar was done using a regression analysis. At the a=0.05 level: the first two hypothesis were supported, and the third hypothesis has not yet been statistically supported.<>