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In eukaryotes, the [[spliceosome]] is the ribonucleoprotein complex that [[RNA processing|removes]] the intronic sequences from most precursor-mRNAs. While it has not historically been considered a ribozyme, recent experimental evidence suggests that it might be. Researchers are currently investigating this possibility.
In eukaryotes, the [[spliceosome]] is the ribonucleoprotein complex that [[RNA processing|removes]] the intronic sequences from most precursor-mRNAs. While it has not historically been considered a ribozyme, recent experimental evidence suggests that it might be. Researchers are currently investigating this possibility.
==Origin of Life Debate==
Ribozymes are currently a centerpiece in the ongoing debate on the origin of life. The ability of some RNA polymerizing ribozymes to synthesize functional products without the need for a [[DNA]] template (they use an RNA template instead) makes RNA an attractive candidate for hypothetical primitive [[biochemistry]]. There is a growing body of chemical, [[molecular biology|molecular biological]], and [[geology|geological]] evidence which supports this hypothesis. Additionally, the recent development of a self-replicating ribozyme derived from a viral ribozyme, demonstrates that self-replicating RNAs ''can'' exist. However, the evidence remains largely circumstantial as nothing conclusive has been found thus far.
This hypothesis that life originated from RNA and ribonucleoprotein based biochemistry is called the ''RNA world hypothesis''. It is considered by many biochemists to be the most plausible current hypothesis for the origin of life. Research investigating this possibility is currently ongoing.
==References==
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