On 15 Apr 1997, Matthew Stanfield wrote:
> Hi I'm writing a university essay on artificial life. What I would like to
> know is if DNA could under any circumstances be considered alive? What about
> proteins?
My origin of life model starts with a protein (the F1 moiety of the
ATPsynthase enzyme, which catalyses during origin of life
conditions several condensation reactions during
thermal cycling). Since the protein can propagate (it makes many proteins,
a very minor fraction of which has identical capabilities) but with a very
low efficiency. Since my first enzyme can convert energy (it is
essentially a heat engine) and can propagate I call it alive.
Anthonie Muller
The Thermosynthesis Home Page
http://www.ed.ac.uk/~awjm
