the last 20 years have given due attention to the mechanism.
the underlying principle, is physical persistence in a surrounding of molecular chaos, one method is a calyx of product, defining a region of go or no-go surrounding the assembly.
this creates an "agent"(!) that preserves a set of rules allowing persistence.
an assembly of rule based pairings, allows persistence on higher levels of organisation than primary colloid chemistry, one innovation being reproduction, directed by combinotoric progression in addition to energetic feasibility.
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(!) agent in terms of complex adaptive systems [CAS] not AI agent
other relevant links Re:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41580-022-00558-8
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-024-02013-w