The emergence of a chemical system capable of self-replication and evolution is a critical event in the origin of life.
RNA polymerase
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
The Structural Link For Initiation Of Protein Synthesis In Bacteria
Within a cell, DNA carries the genetic code for building proteins.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report
RNA-Catalyzed Evolution
NASA-supported researchers have used a laboratory technique called directed evolution to create an RNA enzyme that is capable of carrying out RNA polymerase activity. In living cells, protein polymerases catalyze […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Enzymes Can’t Tell Artificial DNA From The Real Thing
The genetic alphabet contains just four letters, referring to the four nucleotides, the biochemical building blocks that comprise all DNA.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Missing-link Fold Reveals The Evolutionary Pathway Between RNA Polymerase And Ribosomal Proteins
Numerous molecular machines are required to drive the central dogma of molecular biology. However, the means by which such numerous proteins emerged in the early evolutionary stage of life remains […]