First Self-Sufficiency

As time went by Caleb would have gradually added more enzymes and functional components, by developing new genetic chains, and then transcribing them into useful proteins. Eventually Caleb would have evolved into the best possible Caleb, which would have contained a selection of enzymes that created all of its own raw materials. Meet Cassius This particular self-sufficient organism could have included as few as fourteen components. It would have needed at least seven aromatic chains (or seven genes, if you want to start calling them that): A Sofia to code for Freds. A Sorrel to code for Roscoes. A Serena to code for Nathaniels. Two chains to code for enzymes that would synthesize the two amino acids used in Fred, Roscoe, Nathaniel and the catalytic proteins. Two chains to code for enzymes that would synthesize the two chain molecules used in Sofia, Sorrel, Serena and the chains coding for catalysts. A self-sufficient Caleb would also contain at least seven proteins: A Fred, so protein synthesis could start immediately. A Roscoe, so gene replication could start immediately. One or more Nathaniels to hold everything together. Two proteins to synthesize the amino acids used in Fred, Roscoe, Nathaniel and the other proteins. Two proteins to synthesize the chain molecules used in Sofia, Sorrel, Sofia and the other chains. The result would be truly a mighty organism, an Über-Caleb that could cruise into any puddle in the world, fill it up with its own raw materials, and start replicating. This new combination of molecules so much more advanced than Caleb that we'll evolve into a new name, and call it a Cassius (short for Combined And Self SufficIent Über-molecular System). This snaky molecular complex is all it takes to invade any puddle in the world, and create more of itself. Previous Home Next