Statistical Study of Chemical Reaction Network Models for Prebiotic Evolution

Abstract

This thesis focuses on models of prebiotic evolution. The models abstractly describe chemical reaction networks and their dynamic evolution. The goal is to findquantitative measures of their generic features that can be used to identify lifelike systems in the solar system and on exoplanets, as well as to identify the origin of terrestrial life. The thesis covers two of my major contributions to the study. They are i) How geometrical and dynamical features of reaction networks affect their disequilibrium states. ii) Quenches in those models and how they are related to a possible mechanism for the formation of lifelike systems of biomolecules in prebiotic environments.