Science, Space and Technology News 2024
A groundbreaking study reveals how life’s complexity could originate from simple RNA molecules on early Earth. Through experiments demonstrating RNA’s recycling and replication abilities under specific conditions, such as low salinity and high pH, the research suggests life could emerge from minimal molecular sets in environments akin to volcanic islands.
“The building blocks of RNA release a water molecule for every bond they form in a growing RNA chain,” explains Braun, spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Centre Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments and coordinator at the ORIGINS Excellence Cluster. “When, conversely, water is added to an RNA molecule, the RNA building blocks are fed back into the prebiotic pool.”
It had previously been assumed that RNA can only copy itself by ‘randomly’ constructing sequences of around 200 nucleotides in length – so-called ribozymes. However, ribozymes can operate only in saline, and thus RNA-hostile, environments. As a result of this new research, these complex ribozyme sequences in the early stages of RNA evolution are not necessary. “The precision is comparable to the copying of RNA achieved by ribozymes,” says Sreekar Wunnava, also lead author of the study.
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