Understanding emergent functional properties in self replicating systems

This dissertation is focused on two major investigations. The first one is about the mechanism with which a known self-replicator can create copies of itself. This study led to the first real-time visualization of a molecule capable of self-replication. The second is about the introduction of additional functionalities within self-replicating systems of molecules. Here, we were able to show emergent behavior: catalytic activity that would only start when the self-replication process takes place.