Prof. Dr. Saša Svetina (Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, UL, and IJS): Physical aspects of the origin of life

Physical aspects of the origin of life

Prof. Dr. Saša Svetina

Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine UL, and
Jožef Stefan Institute

Most studies of the origin of life concentrate on properties of molecules that constitute the living systems. Here it will be assessed that life could have emerged on the basis of shape behavior of lipid vesicles. This behavior is an emergent property of vesicles because it does not depend on the chemical nature of their membranes. I shall first present an overview of the theory of vesicle shapes. Then I shall describe the process of vesicle self-reproduction and argue that it involves the essential characteristics of the life process. Seminar will end by revealing some common features of the process of vesicle self-reproduction and the contemporary cell cycle.