Crossover Reactions Between Synthetic Replicators Yield Active and Inactive Recombinants

Self-replicating molecules can be synthesized through the covalent linkage of two complementary subunits to give a self-complementary structure. Complementarity refers to sizes, shapes, and the weak intermolecular forces involved in molecular recognition between the two subunits. In order to provide a model system for evolution at the molecular level, "crossover" or recombination experiments were staged with synthetic replicators. These reactions gave rise to new structural types. The ability (or inability) of the new recombinants to catalyze their own formation is shown to be a consequence of their molecular shapes.