Current hypotheses concerning the breaking of mirror symmetry in the bioorganic world are reviewed critically. Two interrelated aspects of the problem, matrix structured homochiral macromolecules and enantiospecific functions capable of keeping homochiral structures replicating, are discussed. Two basic approaches to symmetry breaking, namely evolutionary selection and asymmetric origin scenarios, are considered, whose underlying hypotheses are shown to be inherently inconsistent.

PACS: 87.10.+e DOI: 10.1070/PU1996v039n08ABEH000164 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1996/8/d/ A1996VH30900004 Citation: Avetisov V A, Gol’danskii V I "Physical aspects of mirror symmetry breaking of the bioorganic world" Phys. Usp. 39 819–835 (1996) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Аветисов В А, Гольданский В И «Физические аспекты нарушения зеркальной симметрии биоорганического мира» УФН 166 873–891 (1996); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0166.199608d.0873