Assembly theory

For the communication theory about social interactions, see action assembly theory.
Synthesis of aristolochic acid. Complex molecules require many steps to be synthesized. And the more steps are required to synthesize a particular molecule, the more likely it is of a biological (or technological) origin.

Assembly theory is a framework developed to quantify the complexity of molecules and objects by assessing the minimal number of steps required to assemble them from fundamental building blocks. Proposed by chemist Lee Cronin and his team, the theory assigns an assembly index to molecules, which serves as a measurable indicator of their structural complexity. This approach allows for experimental verification and has applications in understanding selection processes, evolution, and the identification of biosignatures in astrobiology.[1]

  1. ^ Marshall SM, Mathis C, Carrick E, et al. (24 May 2021). "Identifying molecules as biosignatures with assembly theory and mass spectrometry". Nature Communications. 12 (3033): 3033. Bibcode:2021NatCo..12.3033M. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23258-x. PMC 8144626. PMID 34031398.