Abiotic Emergence of Biological Homochirality

Abstract The different types of network leading to spontaneous mirror-symmetry breaking (SMSB) are briefly discussed, as well as the specific characteristics of the thermodynamic systems that allow the achievement of a final chiral stationary state. The recent SMSB model based in enantioselective autocatalysis coupled to enantioselective cross-catalysis aid (hypercyclic replicators) is specifically discussed. Such a model suggests that the RNA-world models could comprise simultaneous emergence of enantioslective replicators and SMSB. The selection of one of two final chiral signs in SMSB in abiotic scenarios is proposed as a primordial Darwinian selection.