In the majority of model variants, the catalytic network is fed by a few simple organic molecules, e.g. amino acids, and the network complexifies by the endogenous catalyzed formation of more complex oligomers . These models are thus based on assuming a high degree of autotrophy . In comparison, basic GARD is open to the realm of significant heterotrophy, and assumes that a large diversity of small molecules may be acquired from the environment. Yet, GARD is also compatible with endogenous covalent synthesis (32) (Figure ). A specific embodiment of GARD proposes that the networks are harbored within catalytic lipid micelles , rooted in substantial evidence for capacities of lipids to be catalytic . Due to their ingrained polarity gradients, micelles can accommodate molecules of diverse chemistries, and can facilitate their mutual stereospecific interactions, leading to efficient catalytic networks . Crucially, the lipid micelle embodiment of GARD conforms to a more detailed list of criteria for early life : being compartmentalized, out-of-equilibrium, capable of selfreproduction, adaptive to external changes and rooted in water, as detailed .