RNA world hypothesis
The RNA world hypothesis is one possible explaination to the paradox surrounding the origin of life on Earth. It was proposed by Francis Crick and his team in the late 1960s [1]. The central dogma of molecular biology states that DNA is required to produce proteins, with RNA acting as an intermeidate [2]. The paradox arises due to the fact that DNA is required to produce proteins, but protiens are required to produce DNA [3]. This raises the question how did such a interdependant system first arise?
The RNA world hypothesis states that due to the ability of RNA to both store genetic information and catalyse chemical reactions, it may be the precursor to current life [4]. However the sequence of reactions which leads to the spontaneous synthesis of RNA in the prebiotic environment has not been scientificaly revealed [5], therefore the hypothesis has failed to gain general scientific consensus.
References
- ↑ Akst J. (2014) RNA World 2.0. The Scientist magazine. Available from: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/39252/title/RNA-World-2-0/ [last accessed: 28.11.2014]
- ↑ Londish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Bretscher, A., Ploegh, H., Amon, A. & Scott, M.P. (2013) Molecular Cell Biology. 7th edn. Basingstoke: Macmillan Higher Education. p. 116.
- ↑ Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkins, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. (2014) Essential Cell Biology. 4th edn. Abingdon: Garland Science. p. 253.
- ↑ Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. (2008) Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th edn. Abingdon: Garland Science. pp. 400-408.
- ↑ Akst J. (2014) RNA World 2.0. The Scientist Magazine. Available from: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/39252/title/RNA-World-2-0/ [last accessed: 28.11.2014]