RNA replication and evolution

Base Pairing and RNA Replication: Key Aspects of RNA Evolution

The RNA world hypothesis proposes a prehistoric period when RNA, with its dual ability to store information and catalyze reactions, was crucial for early life. An integral part of this theory is RNA replication through base-pairing, which is fundamental to understanding RNA evolution.

In this hypothetical RNA world, an RNA molecule would create a new RNA molecule due to complementary base pairing. The base sequence in the original molecule (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or uracil) would guide the formation of the new one: adenine with uracil, and cytosine with guanine. This process would result in a mirror copy of the original RNA molecule.

This simple model faces challenges, including the absence of a naturally occurring enzyme that can catalyze this replication process (initiate back-bone binding). While lab-created self-replicating RNA (ribozymes) prove the concept's feasibility, their natural occurrence remains hypothetical.

[virajdeorukhkar]

The video which this clip is from is what got me interested in biochemistry! I am currently studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge in part due to this video, thank you @StatedClearly !

[danielbriones]

As someone currently studying biology I immediately saw the similarity of this process to PCR.
The denaturation process (the double strand breaks to form single strands) and the annealing process (where complementary base pairs with their respective nucleotide base to form a new double strand) and the missing elongation process looking all to familiar to me.

[sallyrutledge]

Wonderful representation for my HS biology students....Thank You !

[renardleblanc]

And, just for the record: "this currently requires assistance from researchers" *does not* mean: this process *requires* intelligent design.

[davidreinker]

How much assistance is required from researchers and how much does it need to be heated for the base pairs to lose their grip while suspended in cool water?

[Evolution.]

We’re clueless, I tell you, clueless! Well, James Tour is clueless, but I like these clues.😂

[Bryan-fnlp]

How do high concentrations of nucleotides occur in nature? If the bases of the RNA nucleotides are bonded together, how do the mutations slip in? It seems that the strand would have to be broken, the new nucleotide attached to one piece and then the other piece of the original strand would have to be somehow moved back and bonded to the other side of the new nucleotide. If the strands were just floating around randomly, it’s hard to see how they could have been rejoined.

Also, it looks like there’s nothing special about the RNA that is replicated. Can any random sequence of nucleotides be reproduced? If so, then isn’t it incorrect to talk about “self-replicating RNA” since the RNA is not active, it’s totally passive?

Does it matter if the water is fresh or salty?

[marijandesin]

After years of living together my first neighbour mentioned he does not believe in evolution
Left me speachles and sad
I mean I don't understand it in detail but I thrust the authorities enough to believe it
He does not

[Hwelhos]

wouldnt looking at how our dna connects the bases help? or in viruses?

[mattpet]

Damn no enzyme assisted PCR be upon ye

[leslieviljoen]

What extra help do the researchers need to provide for this process to take place?

[darkness]

question: this is merely a hypothesis right? it can’t explain abiogenesis completely?

[shadyamigo]

There must be more in the paper than this. RNA base pairing is hardly new knowledge.

[petevenuti]

Have you been attacked by the creationists yet?

[charleslampman]

Oh shin, 'tion, ' thanks bionerd!

[ΑΓΡΙΟΑΡΧΕΙΟ]

Remarkable yet how the data the recipes came to exist ? Take Titin the largest protein 34350 chiral aminoacids to create muscles suspension . Nice video but it doesn't explaine the most fundamental question where the accurate without mutation dna came to be .

[wiltonpt]

It wouldn’t have happened in the wild I’m sorry to say. Because of this kind of thinking scientists are just not doing science anymore but only looking to confirm the theory of evolution which has. Even seriously in revision right now as we speak by scientist even from the London Royal academy of sciences.