Document: Rediscovering Computational Autopoiesis

2 The Original Qualitative Chemistry

The chemistry takes places in a discrete, two dimensional, space. Each position in the space is either empty or occupied by a single particle. Particles generally move in random walks in the space. There are three distinct particle types, engaging in three distinct reactions:

Production: Two substrate (S) particles may react, in the presence of a catalyst (K) particle to form a link (L) particle.
Bonding: L particles may bond to other L particles. Each L particle can form (at most) two bonds, thus allowing the formation of indefinitely long chains, which may close to form membranes. Bonded L particles become immobile.
Disintegration: An L particle may spontaneously disintegrate, yielding two S particles. When this occurs any bonds associated with the L particle are destroyed also.

Chains of L particles are permeable to S particles but impermeable to K and L particles. Thus a closed chain, or membrane, which encloses K or L particles effectively traps such particles.

3 The Phenomena

Rediscovering Computational Autopoiesis

1 Introduction

Document: Rediscovering Computational Autopoiesis

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