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Abstract
The activation-polymerization-epimerization-depolymerization (APED) model of Plasson
et al. has recently been proposed as a mechanism for the evolution of homochirality
on prebiotic Earth. The dynamics of the APED model in two-dimensional spatially-extended
systems is investigated for various realistic reaction parameters. It is found that
the APED system allows for the formation of isolated homochiral proto-domains surrounded
by a racemate. A diffusive slowdown of the APED network such as induced through tidal
motion or evaporating pools and lagoons leads to the stabilization of homochiral bounded
structures as expected in the first self-assembled protocells.