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| | The polio virus is an example of an organism which contains only RNA to carry its genetic information. Some [[protists]] such as ''Paramecium'' carry similar RNA genes in structures called micronuclei. These are involved in mating and replicate independently from the main cell nucleus. | | The polio virus is an example of an organism which contains only RNA to carry its genetic information. Some [[protists]] such as ''Paramecium'' carry similar RNA genes in structures called micronuclei. These are involved in mating and replicate independently from the main cell nucleus. |
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| − | ==Prebiotic RNA Polymerization==
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| − | ===From Primordial Soup===
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| − | John Sutherland from the University of Manchester, UK, may have found the correct combination of primordial conditions for producing RNA. These findings may lead to a refinement of scientific theories related to the transition of natural nonbiotic molecules into the first elements of biological life.
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| − | From the paper entitle "Synthesis of activated pyrimidine ribonucleotides in prebiotically plausible conditions" in the peer-reviewed ''Nature'' journal, the authors document their methodologies. The scientists claimed to be able to repeatably create RNA structures from a joint precursors solution (pairing the bases and sugars in the molecule), a good blast of UV light, and 5 ingredients thought to be in abundance on the pre-biotic earth.
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| − | <ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090513/sc_afp/sciencebiologylife_20090513210508 RNA] AFP. May 13, 2009</ref> While RNA generation has been happening for some time, no scientist has yet found experimental proof of DNA synthesis. DNA, which is found in all but the most simple lifeforms, has a more complex structure with its iconic double helix design. If or until scientist develop concepts of natural DNA synthesis, many important questions will remain for both the public and microbiologists.
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| − | <ref>http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227084.200-molecule-of-life-emerges-from-laboratory-slime.html</ref><ref>http://www.chemistry.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/staff/showprofile.php?id=390</ref><ref>http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7244/full/nature08013.html</ref>
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| − | ===From Clays===
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| − | Research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute suggests that the formation of long strands of RNA may have been catalyzed by clays such as montmorillonite. The charged clay surface attracts the nucleotides and the increased local concentration of nucleotides causes bond formation between nucleotides, forming a polymer of RNA.<ref>http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem/chem_faculty/profiles/pdfs/ferris/Royal_Soc..pdf</ref><ref>http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem/chem_faculty/profiles/pdfs/ferris/Alders.Mass_Spec.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem/chem_faculty/profiles/pdfs/ferris/Huang_MS_JACS_2006%203.pdf</ref>
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| − | ===From Ice===
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| − | Strands of RNA have been shown to form in salty ice water. David Deamer's lab at the University of California at Santa Cruz has found that the process of freezing a dilute solution of RNA nucleotides causes the nucleotides to become concentrated as ice crystals form, eventually resulting in the formation of strands of RNA. <ref>J. P. Dworkin, D. W. Deamer, S. A. Sandford, and L. J. Allamandola. 2001. Self-assembling amphiphilic molecules: Synthesis in simulated interstellar/precometary ices. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:815-819.</ref>
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |