Theory proposes that self-organization in protocells arises from thermodynamic aggression, suggesting a competitive early environment.
Traditional models of abiogenesis often suffer from "biological optimism," assuming a cooperative and idyllic environment for the emergence of the first vesicles. This paper proposes a radically different framework: The Prebiotic Battlefield. Drawing on the Szostak model of membrane competition, we define early self-organization as a process driven by thermodynamic aggression and "vesicular cannibalism." We argue that biochemical complexity did not emerge by chance, but as a byproduct of intense selection for mechanical resilience, osmotic dominance, and the ability to dissipate energy through the incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles.
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Peter Mikuláš (2026) studied this question.
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