Fig. 5. (a) Schematic representation of a recently developed method for nonenzymatic RNAs replication with mixed nucleotides within vesicles. Reproduced from ref. 75 with permission. Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society. (b) Conceptual model of a heterotrophic protocell. The protocells grow by taking amphiphiles from the environment and dividing by plausible intrinsic or extrinsic physical forces. Nonenzymatic copying of internal templates is implemented by externally supplied activated nucleotides that can permeate across the protocell membrane. Reproduced from ref. 72 with permission. Copyright 2008 Springer Nature. (c) Protocell that can produce carbohydrates by an autocatalytic formose reaction. The carbohydrates generated then form complexes with borates, which are input signals that induce Vibrio harveyi bacteria to emit a detectable bioluminescent output. Reproduced from ref. 81 with permission. Copyright 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited.