  We propose a simple mechanism for the self-replication of protocells. Our
main hypothesis is that the amphiphilic molecules composing the membrane
bilayer are synthesised inside the protocell through globally exothermic
chemical reactions. The slow increase of the inner temperature forces the
hottest molecules to move from the inner leaflet to the outer leaflet of the
bilayer. This asymmetric translocation process makes the outer leaflet grow
faster than the inner leaflet. This differential growth increases the mean
curvature and amplifies any local shrinking of the protocell until it splits in
two.
