DNA is important for nearly all living organisms, because it contains the necessary genetic information that makes up the characteristics and functions of an organism. However, it isn’t as important as it seems to be, because scientists believe that RNA may have appeared on the earth before DNA. …What is RNA, and what is it capable of doing? RNA is a nucleic acid present in all living cells, in which help perform protein synthesis—perform chemical reactions. Experiments performed in 1960s have demonstrated that RNA has the ability to store information, and also RNA can “act as an enzyme to self-edit their own code” (“RNA was the first genetic molecule”). Even though DNA and RNA are both types of genetic material, DNA and RNA are very different. Billions and billions of years ago, before the earth had any living organism on it, organic molecules (example, carbon) were in the present. It’s a probability that these chemicals were the first free flowing chemicals that helped came today and formed RNA, thus forming the first cell on earth. RNA can also be thought to be the old genetic coding mechanism, because the earth’s primordial ocean was created close to the time when the earth was formed (approximately 4 ½ billion years ago), “may well have contained microscopic life forms based on RNA” (Preston, 1994). There are two requirements that exist for making a cell: the ability to bind molecules together and/or break them apart, and the ability to replicate from existing information. Even though RNA relies of DNA’s genetic information in order to replicate, “one prominent theory about the origins of life, called the RNA World model, postulates that because RNA can function as both a gene and an enzyme” (“Scientists develop first examples of RNA that replicates itself indefinitely”).
Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.
RNA was the first genetic molecule. (2011, January 1). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.dnaftb.org/26/
Scientists develop first examples of RNA that replicates itself indefinitely. (2009, January 9). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://phys.org/news150739469.html
In addition to Karen, RNA is often referred to as the "scratch molecule," meaning it is the most ideal molecule to begin life from nothing. Scientist actually now believe that it existed before even cells came. With modern research RNA is believed to hold " genetic information and catalyzed the chemical reactions in primitive cells" (NCBI). The reason why scientist focused so much on this hypothesis (RNA started life) is because a world could have not derived from molecules that can only catalyze other reactions. The reason that is, is because if a molecule could not self catalyze to make copies of its self, we'd all be running one single catalyst, which is impossible, so once they found properties of RNA that somewhat resembles self cataly-ism (the idea of a molecule being able to self catalyze), the origin of how cells came to be became more clear and was obvious that RNA had to come before DNA (there is still ongoing research about RNA and self catalyzing to find out exact details oh possible replications in labs).
Adding to Karen, RNA is more prone to mutating than DNA, helping the earliest life forms to grow and become different species from the original ancestor. The hypothesis of early life suggests that the living being needed a membrane to keep foreign material out and a nucleic acid to reproduce (NOVA). RNA would be the likely candidate as the nucleic acid to be used in the early life form because it’s a single strand instead of the double strand DNA has. Ebola has a protein membrane and RNA, so it is possible Ebola evolved from one of these early life forms, but changed to use the bodies of other life forms to become a parasitic virus. Revealing the Origins of Life [TV Show Episode]. (2011). USA: PBS.
DNA is important for nearly all living organisms, because it contains the necessary genetic information that makes up the characteristics and functions of an organism. However, it isn’t as important as it seems to be, because scientists believe that RNA may have appeared on the earth before DNA. …What is RNA, and what is it capable of doing? RNA is a nucleic acid present in all living cells, in which help perform protein synthesis—perform chemical reactions. Experiments performed in 1960s have demonstrated that RNA has the ability to store information, and also RNA can “act as an enzyme to self-edit their own code” (“RNA was the first genetic molecule”). Even though DNA and RNA are both types of genetic material, DNA and RNA are very different. Billions and billions of years ago, before the earth had any living organism on it, organic molecules (example, carbon) were in the present. It’s a probability that these chemicals were the first free flowing chemicals that helped came today and formed RNA, thus forming the first cell on earth. RNA can also be thought to be the old genetic coding mechanism, because the earth’s primordial ocean was created close to the time when the earth was formed (approximately 4 ½ billion years ago), “may well have contained microscopic life forms based on RNA” (Preston, 1994). There are two requirements that exist for making a cell: the ability to bind molecules together and/or break them apart, and the ability to replicate from existing information. Even though RNA relies of DNA’s genetic information in order to replicate, “one prominent theory about the origins of life, called the RNA World model, postulates that because RNA can function as both a gene and an enzyme” (“Scientists develop first examples of RNA that replicates itself indefinitely”).
ReplyDeletePreston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.
RNA was the first genetic molecule. (2011, January 1). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.dnaftb.org/26/
Scientists develop first examples of RNA that replicates itself indefinitely. (2009, January 9). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://phys.org/news150739469.html
In addition to Karen, RNA is often referred to as the "scratch molecule," meaning it is the most ideal molecule to begin life from nothing. Scientist actually now believe that it existed before even cells came. With modern research RNA is believed to hold " genetic information and catalyzed the chemical reactions in primitive cells" (NCBI). The reason why scientist focused so much on this hypothesis (RNA started life) is because a world could have not derived from molecules that can only catalyze other reactions. The reason that is, is because if a molecule could not self catalyze to make copies of its self, we'd all be running one single catalyst, which is impossible, so once they found properties of RNA that somewhat resembles self cataly-ism (the idea of a molecule being able to self catalyze), the origin of how cells came to be became more clear and was obvious that RNA had to come before DNA (there is still ongoing research about RNA and self catalyzing to find out exact details oh possible replications in labs).
ReplyDeleteAdding to Karen, RNA is more prone to mutating than DNA, helping the earliest life forms to grow and become different species from the original ancestor. The hypothesis of early life suggests that the living being needed a membrane to keep foreign material out and a nucleic acid to reproduce (NOVA). RNA would be the likely candidate as the nucleic acid to be used in the early life form because it’s a single strand instead of the double strand DNA has. Ebola has a protein membrane and RNA, so it is possible Ebola evolved from one of these early life forms, but changed to use the bodies of other life forms to become a parasitic virus.
ReplyDeleteRevealing the Origins of Life [TV Show Episode]. (2011). USA: PBS.