Re: RNA World


"spintronic" <spintronic@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1183208767.225277.118850@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Any ardent "RNA World Hypothesis" adherents still around in here these
days?

The Wiki article
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_world_hypothesis>
begins with the sentence:
The RNA world hypothesis is a theory which proposes that a
world filled with RNA (ribonucleic acid) based life predates
current DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) based life.

I guess I qualify as an adherent of that much, though I disagree
with a lot of the other ideas mentioned in that article. I would
be an *ardent* adherent if the definition instead stated that
heritable RNA catalysis (ribozymes) predate heritable protein
catalysis (enzymes). IMO, the case for that is overwhelming.
I remain a bit agnostic as to whether RNA predates DNA.

But my main problem with the Wiki article is that it mixes up
the "RNA World Hypothesis" with the "RNA First Hypothesis".
See this article by Shapiro
<http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=B7AABF35-E7F2-99DF-309B8CEF02B5C4D7>
for a clear statement of the difference between the hypotheses.

I agree with "RNA World". I strongly disagree with "RNA First".
If you wish to argue against "RNA First", you have my approval,
but please call it that.

I also request, in a sense of fairness, that if you are going to
attack a hypothesis, you state clearly what alternative hypothesis
you support. I request this without the faintest hope that my
request will be granted. I may be an optimist regarding abiogenesis,
but not regarding human nature.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: RNA World
    ... >>> I remain a bit agnostic as to whether RNA predates DNA. ... >>> But my main problem with the Wiki article is that it mixes up ... I request this without the faintest hope that my ... > - Some other kind of naked gene first ...
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  • Re: RNA World
    ... world filled with RNA based life predates ... I remain a bit agnostic as to whether RNA predates DNA. ... But my main problem with the Wiki article is that it mixes up ... I also request, in a sense of fairness, that if you are going to ...
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  • Re: RNA World
    ... world filled with RNA based life predates ... But my main problem with the Wiki article is that it mixes up ... I also request, in a sense of fairness, that if you are going to ... in that a "RNA First" hypothesis is untenable. ...
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  • Re: RNA World
    ... world filled with RNA (ribonucleic acid) based life predates ... I remain a bit agnostic as to whether RNA predates DNA. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: RNA World
    ... world filled with RNA (ribonucleic acid) based life predates ... I remain a bit agnostic as to whether RNA predates DNA. ...
    (talk.origins)