ABSTRACT
Since the seminal work of Oparin, the question of the origin of life has usually been discussed within the frame of molecular Darwinism. An autopoietic unit is a system that determines its own making, due to a network of reactions which take place within its own well-defined boundary. An amoeba is an autopoietic unit, as replication of its structural components takes place within its own organizational domain. To apply the concepts of autopoiesis to concrete chemical systems, it is necessary to adhere to the original definition of boundary. Concerning the comparison of reverse versus aqueous micelles, one may think that aqueous micelles offer a greater biological relevance. Reverse micelles, however, owing to their more stringent monodispersity, seem to be able to replicate "better". The hydrolysis of a simple organic molecule, ethyl caprylate, has given rise to an autopoietic entity.
