Periodic Temperature Fluctuations as a Driving Force for the RNA Evolution

The effect of periodic temperature variation on short interacting RNA strands is demonstrated using three pairs of competing RNA duplexes as examples. The molecular interaction kinetics are simulated based on the experimental thermodynamic data obtained by M. E. Christiansen et al., as well as on the Eyring theory. The simulated time developments demonstrate the impact of shifting reaction kinetics and a state of continuous non-equilibrium. These factors provide a perpetual energy source for selection processes, creating ideal conditions for an ongoing molecular evolution.