On September 3, a study published in the Biophysical Journal of Cell Press showed that a simple mechanism may be the basis for growth and self-replication, the hypothetical ancestor of primitive cells and modern living cells
Primitive cells are vesicles surrounded by membrane bilayers, which may be similar to the first common ancestor of single cells (FUCA)
"The original motivation of the study was to determine the main force driving cell division
The division of a cell into two daughter cells requires the synchronization of a large number of biochemical and mechanical processes, including the cytoskeleton structure within the cell
Scientists believe that before genes, RNA, enzymes, and all the complex organelles that exist today, even in the most basic autonomous life forms, primitive cells must have used a simple division mechanism to ensure reproduction
In this new research, Attal proposed a model based on the following view: The early form of life is a simple vesicle, which contains a specific chemical reaction network-the precursor of modern cell metabolism
The slow increase in internal temperature forces the hottest molecules to move from the inner layer of the double layer to the outer layer
Attal said: "This scenario can be seen as a precursor to mitosis
Although this is a pure theoretical model, it can be verified through experiments
Attal said that if future research can confirm, this model will have several important implications
Related paper information: https://doi.
https://doi.
org/10.
1016/j.
bpj.
2021.
08.
020
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