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Fig. 1 | BMC Evolutionary Biology

Fig. 1

From: The emergence of DNA in the RNA world: an in silico simulation study of genetic takeover

Fig. 1

The influence of Nrr with different active rates on the system of the RNA-based protocells. (a) The Nrr’s active rate (P NRR ) is kept 0 throughout the simulation. Based on the case shown in A, at step 0.7 × 106, P NRR is changed from 0 to (b) 0.5; (c) 0.02; (d) 0.001. For each subfigure, the top panel shows the dynamics at the molecular level, and the bottom panel the cellular level. Stars represent the chromosome (RNA in black and DNA in red) containing all the five genes, while x-shapes represent the chromosome (RNA in black and DNA in red) containing only four genes (lacking the Nrr). The black dashed line denotes the total materials concerning RNA, including RNA, nucleotides, nucleotide precursors and nucleotide precursors’ precursors (all counted as quotients in measurement of nucleotides; and to be drawn in this same figure, the “materials” are here represented in a 1/200 scale); and in a similar way the red dashed line denotes the total materials concerning DNA. Dots represent the ribozymes (Rep in magenta, Nsr in green, Npsr in cyan, Asr in yellow, and Nrr in blue). Empty circles represent total protocells, and the circles with a symbol in represent the protocells containing the chromosome represented by that symbol (e.g., the circles with a black star in represent the protocells containing the five-gene RNA chromosome). Note that the symbols in the following dynamic figures are interpreted the same way

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