Autocatalysis is essentially the goal of an RNA world right - we want an RNA that can make more RNA using RNA - autocatalysis. The problem with vague autocatalytic sets is they are very hard to find and if not also…
We have started to call the first life FUCA (First universal common ancestor)! There must have been much evolution before LUCA as we know that it had a complex metabolism and a sophisticated DNA genome - far more…
Yeah this is an interesting way to think about. In modern biology DNA still acts as long term data storage with RNA acting as a mostly transient species that while essential is slightly more disposable. However, we…
Most people think that is the case yes but we have n=1 data points right? We are mostly in the business of learning the physical processes that create life like phenomena and not perfectly recreating how life arose on…
Your numbers are fine - but RNA is fragile; making one copy of something really rare will not be able to do anything as it will not last long enough to meaningfully contribute. Interestingly we now are thinking about…
The hardest part of the transition from prebiotic chemistry (assembling the building blocks) to an 'RNA World' is doing so in a way that can support RNA copying. As others have shown the chance of finding one replicator…
Autocatalysis is essentially the goal of an RNA world right - we want an RNA that can make more RNA using RNA - autocatalysis. The problem with vague autocatalytic sets is they are very hard to find and if not also…
We have started to call the first life FUCA (First universal common ancestor)! There must have been much evolution before LUCA as we know that it had a complex metabolism and a sophisticated DNA genome - far more…
Yeah this is an interesting way to think about. In modern biology DNA still acts as long term data storage with RNA acting as a mostly transient species that while essential is slightly more disposable. However, we…
Most people think that is the case yes but we have n=1 data points right? We are mostly in the business of learning the physical processes that create life like phenomena and not perfectly recreating how life arose on…
Your numbers are fine - but RNA is fragile; making one copy of something really rare will not be able to do anything as it will not last long enough to meaningfully contribute. Interestingly we now are thinking about…
The hardest part of the transition from prebiotic chemistry (assembling the building blocks) to an 'RNA World' is doing so in a way that can support RNA copying. As others have shown the chance of finding one replicator…