Abiogenesis, to me, is similar to the original state of evolution, that I call chemical evolution. Chemical evolution, by natural selection, would eventually lead to self replicators, which become the origin of the evolutionary theory. If a form of early chemical evolution was the case, did that chemical evolution stage stop, when the replicators appeared? Or does this nanoscale version of evolution; chemical, still run parallel to the macro changes, inferred from fossils and Evolution, proper? My guess is it still runs parallel; origins. Natural selection at the nanoscale follows natural selection at the macro-scale and vice versa. Dice and card is more of a way to average these unknown but logical chemical processes, behind continued chemical evolution, But an average does not give all the needed details for a rational model.
The most logical chemical behind natural chemical selection at the nanoscale of life, is water. Water forms hydrogen bonds, with each water molecule able to form up to four hydrogen bonds, with other water. This is very stabilizing to water and give it water high boiling point for such a small molecule.
The fluidity of life processes is based on secondary bonding forces, that can break and reform, with the hydrogen bonding the strongest secondary bonding force used by life. DNA, RNA and protein all inherited this from water. Water is given off when they polymerize. With water the dormant hydrogen bonding material, both in shear number of molecules; 100 times as many water molecules as all the rest, combined, and water has to largest total number of aqueous hydrogen bonds, it is the most logical source for natural selection at the nanoscale; big dog of secondary bonding, running the show.
Water is optimized to itself, since it can form up to four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. While all organics in water, will raise the surface tension in the water to some extent; breaks one of more hydrogen bonds between water. This is why even soluble organics in water, like alcohol; ethyl alcohol, will alter the natural surface tension of the body's water; increase, and this can cause equilibrium changes, not always for the best; brain, skin, liver, kidneys, blood vessels, etc. Stopping can reverse this; lowers global surface tension.
When any organic is placed in water, the water will feel the deficit, and try to minimize the surface tension, which then forces these organics to accommodate. Proteins are packed and folded, by water, to minimize their surface tension in water. Water is like a bunch of army ants that can, as a team, man handle larger objects like protein. The final shape is bioactive. The protein will not just assume that state, if water was not present or if you add another solvent. If water folded a new style protein, and there is residual surface tension, there is a lingering surface potential for change, until that ship is rightened.
The lowering of surface tension of organics in water also places protein, for example, into lower entropy states. There is more complexity or freedom, all stretched out wiggling. The lowering of surface tension comes first; enthalpy and entropy loss. The containment, to lower surface tension, creates an entropic potential; a target for the 2nd law. This helps the nanoscale odd makers by loading the dice in a specific game. Reactions on enzymes is a way to satisfy the 2nd law.
Water, 3-D hydrogen bonding liquid continuum, organic surface tension, lowering organic entropy, entropic potential; selective change. Water is near and far for both global and selective local changes. While evolution of cells; organic structure, alter the global water set point.
