DNA describes the characteristics of the cell and ribosomes are the protein engines that build the cell. However RNA molecules are the communication cables that allow the instructions in DNA to reach the ribosomes. There is a theory that, instead of DNA originating first and giving rise to life, RNA came first and existed as a sub cellular, chemical world that was the precursor to the DNA based world of life. The theory has several salient point, but lacks evidence and experimental models - until now.
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The natural enantiomer of the RNA precursor molecules
formed a crystal structure visible to the naked eye |
A team of scientists at the Scribbens Research Institute have set up an experiment that demonstrates how RNA molecules could have originated in conditions like the early Earth. Biological molecules, such as RNA and proteins, can exist in either a natural or unnatural form called enantiomers. By carefully studying the chemical reactions, the team found that it was possible to only generate the natural form of the necessary RNA precursors by including simple amino acids.
'These amino acids changed how reactions work and allowed only naturally occurring RNA precursors to be generated in a stable form,' said Jason Hein, leader of the Scribbens research team. 'In the end we showed that an amazingly simple result emerged from some very complex and interconnected chemistry.' The natural enantiomer of the RNA precursor molecules formed a crystal structure visible to the naked eye. The crystals were stable and avoided normal chemical breakdown. They can exist until the right conditions allow them to turn into RNA.
