Origins and complexity
From the first living systems to complex cells and multicellular organisms, explore several transitions in life’s history.
10 problemsOrigins of life
How nonliving chemistry could give rise to living systems.
Collections
Browse collectionsA few problems to explore
4 totalOrigin of life
Before there were cells, there were molecules. How did chemical systems begin passing useful abilities to descendants and sustaining their own reproduction?
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?