This manuscript discusses the role of lipid membranes in early evolution, proposing that 'primordial sex' through membrane fusion improves the efficiency of forming evolvable protocells. The study uses mathematical modeling to show that even before replication and selection, membrane fusion could significantly increase the probability of forming functional protocells. The research suggests that this process could have been beneficial in early evolution, allowing for the assembly of complex functions without requiring evolution. The study also explores the impact of parasites on this process and draws parallels with modern viral mechanisms like multiplicity reactivation.
documents/EFTA01183812.pdf
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