The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New Theory
Carl Woese’s thesis of cellular evolution emphasized that the last universal common/cellular ancestor (LUCA) must have evolved by drawing from “global inventions”. Yet, existing theories regarding the origin(s) of LUCA have mostly centered upon scenarios that LUCA had evolved mostly independently. I...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Shiping Tang Ming Gao |
| author_facet | Shiping Tang Ming Gao |
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| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Carl Woese’s thesis of cellular evolution emphasized that the last universal common/cellular ancestor (LUCA) must have evolved by drawing from “global inventions”. Yet, existing theories regarding the origin(s) of LUCA have mostly centered upon scenarios that LUCA had evolved mostly independently. In an earlier paper, we advanced a new theory regarding the origin(s) of LUCA that extends Woese’s original insights. Our theory centers upon the possibility that different vesicles and protocells can merge with and acquire each other as a form of variation, selection, and retention, driven by wet-and-dry cycles and other similar cyclical processes. In this paper, we use computer simulation to show that under a variety of simulated conditions, LUCA can indeed be produced by our proposed processes. We hope that our study can stimulate laboratory testing of some key hypotheses that vesicles’ absorption, acquisition, and merger has indeed been a central force in driving the evolution of LUCA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-40569e74da244ec090272415ab83a2d6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj-art-40569e74da244ec090272415ab83a2d62025-01-24T13:38:41ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-01-011517510.3390/life15010075The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New TheoryShiping Tang0Ming Gao1Center for Complex Decision Analysis, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, ChinaCenter for Complex Decision Analysis, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, ChinaCarl Woese’s thesis of cellular evolution emphasized that the last universal common/cellular ancestor (LUCA) must have evolved by drawing from “global inventions”. Yet, existing theories regarding the origin(s) of LUCA have mostly centered upon scenarios that LUCA had evolved mostly independently. In an earlier paper, we advanced a new theory regarding the origin(s) of LUCA that extends Woese’s original insights. Our theory centers upon the possibility that different vesicles and protocells can merge with and acquire each other as a form of variation, selection, and retention, driven by wet-and-dry cycles and other similar cyclical processes. In this paper, we use computer simulation to show that under a variety of simulated conditions, LUCA can indeed be produced by our proposed processes. We hope that our study can stimulate laboratory testing of some key hypotheses that vesicles’ absorption, acquisition, and merger has indeed been a central force in driving the evolution of LUCA.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/1/75computer simulationLUCACarl Woesecellular evolutionglobal inventions |
| spellingShingle | Shiping Tang Ming Gao The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New Theory Life computer simulation LUCA Carl Woese cellular evolution global inventions |
| title | The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New Theory |
| title_full | The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New Theory |
| title_fullStr | The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New Theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New Theory |
| title_short | The Origin(s) of LUCA: Computer Simulation of a New Theory |
| title_sort | origin s of luca computer simulation of a new theory |
| topic | computer simulation LUCA Carl Woese cellular evolution global inventions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/1/75 |
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