Title: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: Wraitchel on January 09, 2009, 05:46:25 AM
Post by: Wraitchel on January 09, 2009, 05:46:25 AM
Scientists have concocted self-replicating strands of RNA, which they believe may be a good model for the kinds of nucleotide production that may eventually have evolved into life 4 billion years ago. These RNA strands mutate and naturally select for the best utilization of available amino acid ingredients. It is most cool. http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/01/replicatingrna.html
Title: Re: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: Will on January 09, 2009, 04:56:23 PM
Post by: Will on January 09, 2009, 04:56:23 PM
Soup's on!
I just read about this yesterday. This is another step towards providing a verifiable, possible theory of abiogenesis.
I just read about this yesterday. This is another step towards providing a verifiable, possible theory of abiogenesis.
Title: Re: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: SSY on January 10, 2009, 01:44:39 AM
Post by: SSY on January 10, 2009, 01:44:39 AM
That makes me really, really happy.
Title: Re: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: curiosityandthecat on January 10, 2009, 03:20:32 AM
Post by: curiosityandthecat on January 10, 2009, 03:20:32 AM
Isn't this quite similar to what Sagan was doing at Cornell?
Title: Re: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: Wraitchel on January 10, 2009, 04:49:13 PM
Post by: Wraitchel on January 10, 2009, 04:49:13 PM
It is probably a continuation of what he was trying to do, but these puppies are the first to self-replicate not only with their complement strand, but also to fish amino acids out of the stew to go on increasing the population. The types which are most effective at utilizing the amino acids begin to dominate. Selection happens. Mutations happen. See where this is going?
Title: Re: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: SSY on January 11, 2009, 01:15:15 AM
Post by: SSY on January 11, 2009, 01:15:15 AM
God is fooling us to test our faith in him?
Am I right? Do I get a cookie?
Am I right? Do I get a cookie?
Title: Re: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: Squid on January 11, 2009, 05:25:30 PM
Post by: Squid on January 11, 2009, 05:25:30 PM
For those interested, here's the full article:
http://www.mediafire.com/?kmn3rj5ryou
http://www.mediafire.com/?kmn3rj5ryou
Title: Re: Primordial stew, anyone?
Post by: VanReal on January 11, 2009, 11:14:04 PM
Post by: VanReal on January 11, 2009, 11:14:04 PM
Quote from: "SSY"God is fooling us to test our faith in him?
Am I right? Do I get a cookie?
Very interesting. Viruses use RNA to evolve and mutate - HIV being a major player in that, for example. I need to read the article.