The RNA World on Ice: A New Scenario for the Emergence of RNA Information

@article{Vlassov2004TheRW,
  title={The RNA World on Ice: A New Scenario for the Emergence of RNA Information},
  author={A. Vlassov and S. Kazakov and B. Johnston and L. Landweber},
  journal={Journal of Molecular Evolution},
  year={2004},
  volume={61},
  pages={264-273}
}
The RNA world hypothesis refers to a hypothetical era prior to coded peptide synthesis, where RNA was the major structural, genetic, and catalytic agent. Though it is a widely accepted scenario, a number of vexing difficulties remain. In this review we focus on a missing link of the RNA world hypothesis—primitive miniribozymes, in particular ligases, and discuss the role of these molecules in the evolution of RNA size and complexity. We argue that prebiotic conditions associated with freezing… Expand
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A 'Lipid-RNA World Scenario' based on the assumption that modern stable lipid-RNA interactions are molecular fossils of an ancient stage of evolution when RNA World originated from Lipid World is proposed, and an 'ice-covered hydrothermal vent' model of Hadean Ocean is presented. Expand
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