Origin of life
Before there were cells, there were molecules. How did chemical systems begin passing useful abilities to descendants and sustaining their own reproduction?
Origins of life
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Origin of the genetic code
Cells translate genetic sequences into proteins. How did a code and the machinery that reads it arise together?
Origin of viruses
Viruses have remarkably different genomes and structures. Did their major lineages emerge independently, and from what ancestors?
Biological homochirality
Life predominantly builds proteins and nucleic acids from particular mirror-image forms. How did those molecular preferences become established?