Autocatalysis, Information and Coding

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        Abstract: 
      
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<p>

      
        Autocatalytic self-construction in macromolecular systems requires the existence of a
      
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        reflexive relationship between structural components and the functional operations they 
        perform
      
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        to synthesise themselves. The possibility of reflexivity depends on formal, semiotic 
        features of
      
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        the catalytic structure-function relationship, that is, the embedding of catalytic 
        functions in the
      
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        space of polymeric structures. Reflexivity is a semiotic property of some genetic 
        sequences.
      
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        Such sequences may serve as the basis for the evolution of coding as a result of 
        autocatalytic
      
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        self-organisation in a population of assignment catalysts. Autocatalytic selection is a 
        mechanism
      
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        whereby matter becomes differentiated in primitive biochemical systems. In the case of 
        coding
      
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        self-organisation it corresponds to the creation of symbolic information. Prions are 
        present-day
      
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        entities whose replication through autocatalysis reflects aspects of biological semiotics 
        less
      
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        obvious than genetic coding.
      
      
        
      
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