- Published: November 17, 2021
- Updated: November 17, 2021
- University / College: Curtin University
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 31
Biology Summary of the Article The paper analyses the origin of life. The article announces a discovery that there were several compounds in the earth that enabled the reactions that produced biomolecules necessary for life. The contents try to solve the mystery of how genetic molecules such as DNA and RNA were formed (Service para. 1). The scientists outline that proteins are the essential components of life and that protein based molecules. The article dwells on the RNA World hypothesis that claims new evidence that RNA molecules were from reactions of then existing compounds; acetylene and formaldehyde.
RNA World hypothesis
The RNA World hypothesis is built on the fact that RNA preceded DNA molecules. The hypothesis asserts that RNA biomolecules were able to carry the genetic information and also protein catalysts enhanced the speed of reactions. The hypothesis is built on a concept that there existed two biological compounds named acetylene and formaldehyde (Service para. 5). The proponents believe that existing compounds such as acetylene and formaldehyde underwent chains of reactions to form the first RNA building blocks. The compounds were able to initiate the process of RNA formation without enzymes.
Molecules that Sutherland and colleagues now suggest initiated life on earth
The three major molecule are Nucleic Acids, Amino Acids and Lipids.
Major building blocks of life
The building blocks of life include Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins and Nucleic acids.
One question/concern that came to mind after reading this article
The article raises concerns about how the earth was able to sustain biological molecules. The scientists do no offer a background of conditions that would have sustained the molecules.
Work cited
Service, Robert. ” Researchers May Have Solved Origin-of-life Conundrum.” Sciencemagazine. org. N. p., 16 Mar. 2015. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.