Just read a brief article stating that some scientists at the University of Manchester, UK, created a ribonucleotide. Creating a building block of RNA is a feat that has never been performed. The ribonucleotide was created from simple chemicals under conditions that might have existed on earth millions of years ago.
This gives more plausibility to the "RNA World' hypothesis which suggests that life began when RNA, a polymer related to DNA that can duplicate itself and catalyse reactions, emerged from the primordial soup.
"This is extremely strong evidence for the RNA world. We don't know if these chemical steps reflect what actually happened, but before this work there were large doubts that it could happen at all," says Donna Blackmond, a chemist at Imperial College, London.
Also within the past year, Scripps researchers created RNA enzymes that replicated themselves without human intervention.
It is quite possible that in our lifetime scientists will be able to create synthetic life from inert chemicals.
This gives more plausibility to the "RNA World' hypothesis which suggests that life began when RNA, a polymer related to DNA that can duplicate itself and catalyse reactions, emerged from the primordial soup.
"This is extremely strong evidence for the RNA world. We don't know if these chemical steps reflect what actually happened, but before this work there were large doubts that it could happen at all," says Donna Blackmond, a chemist at Imperial College, London.
Also within the past year, Scripps researchers created RNA enzymes that replicated themselves without human intervention.
It is quite possible that in our lifetime scientists will be able to create synthetic life from inert chemicals.
Thanks Ted!
