Dynamics of Small Autocatalytic Reaction Network II: Replication, Mutation and Catalysis

Abstract

Mutation is introduced into autocatalytic reaction networks. Examples of low dimensional dynamical systems --- n = 2, 3 and 4 --- are discussed and complete qualitative analysis is presented. Error thresholds known from simple replication-mutation kinetics with frequency independent replication rates occur here as well. Instead of cooperative transitions or higher order phase transistions the thresholds appear here as supercritical or subcritical bifurcations being analogous to first order phase transitions.