A new study by researchers at Portland State University and the University of Wisconsin finds that a rich diversity of microorganisms live in interdependent communities in high-temperature geothermal environments in […]
Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
RNA Folding Studies Inside Peptide-rich Droplets Reveal Roles Of Modified Nucleosides At The Origin Of Life
Compartmentalization of RNA in biopolymer-rich membraneless organelles is now understood to be pervasive and critical for the function of extant biology and has been proposed as a prebiotically-plausible way to […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Ancient Proteins Offer New Clues About The Origin Of Life On Earth
By simulating early Earth conditions in the lab, researchers have found that without specific amino acids, ancient proteins would not have known how to evolve into everything alive on the […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Evolution: Miniproteins Appeared “From Nowhere”
Every biologist knows that small structures can sometimes have a big impact: Millions of signaling molecules, hormones, and other biomolecules are bustling around in our cells and tissues, playing a […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: NIH Software Assembles Complete Genome Sequences On-demand
National Institutes of Health researchers have developed and released an innovative software tool to assemble truly complete (i.e., gapless) genome sequences from a variety of species.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Stability of DL-Glyceraldehyde under Simulated Hydrothermal Conditions: Synthesis of Sugar-like Compounds in an Iron(III)-Oxide-Hydroxide-Rich Environment under Acidic Conditions
Researchers have suggested that the condensation of low-molecular-weight aldehydes under basic conditions (e.g., pH > 11) is the prebiotic reaction responsible for the abiotic formation of carbohydrates.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Komatiites as Complex Adsorption Surfaces for Amino Acids in Prebiotic Environments, a Prebiotic Chemistry Essay
Komatiites represent the oldest known terrestrial rocks, and their composition has been cataloged as the closest to that of the first terrestrial crust after the cooling of the magma ocean.
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
RNA-catalyzed RNA Ligation Within Prebiotically Plausible Model Protocells
Demonstrating RNA catalysis within prebiotically relevant models of primordial cells (protocells) remains a challenge in Origins of life research.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
The Role Of Minerals In The Early Stage Of The Hadean Earth
In particular, the interaction between functional ribozymes and ancient minerals under simulated primitive conditions is a recent research focus.
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Rolling Circles As A Means Of Encoding Genes In The RNA World
The rolling circle mechanism found in viroids and some RNA viruses is a likely way that replication could have begun in the RNA World.