Thanks, both of you. I already knew a (small) part of this. I knew that the very prototype self replicating molecules were a lot simpler. I don't know how to do the quote yet, I will figure it out later.
Rei wrote:
5. The more "like" the original protein that results from a reaction, and the wider the possible range of input materials, the more common it will become. Soon, you effectively have an effective self replicator, or more likely, a group of molecules that work together to replicate each other. This is known as a "hypercycle".
I've never heard of a "hypercycle" before. I know proteins commonly function as enzymes that catalyze reactions. So you're saying that according to this theory, a protein that formed, essentially, randomly, and then catalyzes a reaction, and the result of the reaction is to make more proteins of its "kind"--that is a hypercycle? And that would be the very very first self-replicating molecule, a protein that causes more of its "kind" to be formed? Then several of these enzymes..get together somehow? In something like a symbiotic relationship. That really does make a lot of sense. What is this theory called? Who thought it up?
I think I will check out that link and see what it says. By the way, in an astronomy class I took I did learn about the amino acids which have been found in outer space--I thought that was very cool!