The first cells may use temperature to divide

"The original motivation of our research was to determine the main force that drives cell division," said Roman Attar of the University of Science and author of the study

The division of a cell into two daughter cells requires the synchronization of a large number of biochemical and mechanical processes, including the cytoskeleton structure within the cell

In this new research, Attar proposed a model based on the following view: The early forms of life are simple vesicles that contain a network of specific chemical reactions—a precursor to modern cell metabolism

The slow increase in internal temperature forces the hottest molecules to move from the inner leaf of the double layer to the outer leaf

Attar said: "The scenario described can be regarded as the ancestor of mitosis

Although this is a purely theoretical model, it can be verified through experiments

Attar said that if future investigations can confirm, this model will have several important implications