A Breakthrough in the Origin of Life
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: General Science (Biology - RNA, Proteins, Amino Acids, Enzymes); Science and Technology - Developments and their applications (Origin of Life theories).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (S&T): Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of Bio-technology.
Key Highlights from the News
A new discovery published in Nature journal helps answer the scientific community's major "chicken-and-egg puzzle" regarding the origin of life.
Main Problem: To synthesize proteins based on instructions in RNA, proteins themselves, known as enzymes, are required. The main question was how this first occurred.
The new study found that simple molecules called aminoacyl-thiols can link amino acids to RNA even without the help of enzymes.
Researchers in London proved that this chemical reaction can occur in ordinary water under Earth's early conditions.
This reaction shows unexpected selectivity towards RNA. This may have paved the way for the first step in protein synthesis.
The study also found that through a simple chemical change, the step of linking amino acids to RNA and the step of joining them together to form protein chains (peptides) can be separated within the same solution.
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