Spatial dynamics of homochiralization
arXiv:q-bio/0505040 · doi:10.1017/S1473550405002338
Abstract
The emergence and spreading of chirality on the early Earth is considered by studying a set of reaction-diffusion equations based on a polymerization model. It is found that effective mixing of the early oceans is necessary to reach the present homochiral state. The possibility of introducing mass extinctions and modifying the emergence rate of life is discussed.
8 pages, 5 figures, Int. J. Astrobiol. (in press)