Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...

Bacterial Transcription

Bacterial Transcription

RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

RNA Structure

RNA Structure

Overview
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Medical care expenditures under gatekeeper and point-of-service arrangements.

Health services research·2002

Same author

RNA cleavage by the 10-23 DNA enzyme.

Methods in enzymology·2001

Same author

The origins of life--a status report.

The American biology teacher·2001

Same author

RNA cleavage by a DNA enzyme with extended chemical functionality.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2001

Same author

In vitro evolution of a ribozyme that contains 5-bromouridine.

Helvetica chimica acta·2001

Same author

Circumstances at HIV diagnosis and progression of disease in older HIV-infected Americans.

American journal of public health·2001

Same journal

Functional and Mechanistic Interplay of Host and Viral Alternative Splicing Regulation during Influenza Infection.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2020

Same journal

Myriad RNAs and RNA-Binding Proteins Control Cell Functions, Explain Diseases, and Guide New Therapies.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2020

Same journal

Small RNA Function in Plants: From Chromatin to the Next Generation.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2020

Same journal

U1 snRNP Telescripting Roles in Transcription and Its Mechanism.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2020

Same journal

The THO Complex as a Paradigm for the Prevention of Cotranscriptional R-Loops.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2020

Same journal

Biophysical Properties of HP1-Mediated Heterochromatin.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2020

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

Evolution in an RNA world.

¹Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. gjoyce@scripps.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology

|August 12, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers created a self-sustaining molecular system that mimics primitive RNA-based life. This system demonstrates Darwinian evolution and exponential amplification of RNA enzymes without biological components.

More Related Videos

Generation of RNA/DNA Hybrids in Genomic DNA by Transformation using RNA-containing Oligonucleotides

Generation of RNA/DNA Hybrids in Genomic DNA by Transformation using RNA-containing Oligonucleotides

Published on: November 24, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

Generation of RNA/DNA Hybrids in Genomic DNA by Transformation using RNA-containing Oligonucleotides

Generation of RNA/DNA Hybrids in Genomic DNA by Transformation using RNA-containing Oligonucleotides

Published on: November 24, 2010

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Origin of Life Studies
Biochemistry

Background:

A key goal in synthetic biology is creating self-sustaining chemical systems capable of Darwinian evolution.
The RNA world hypothesis proposes that RNA molecules, acting as enzymes (ribozymes), could have catalyzed their own replication in early life.

Purpose of the Study:

To construct and demonstrate a self-replicating RNA enzyme system capable of Darwinian evolution.
To investigate the potential for RNA-based life and molecular evolution outside of biological organisms.

Main Methods:

Designed a cross-catalytic system with two RNA enzymes that catalyze each other's synthesis.
Utilized four component substrates for the RNA replication process.
Maintained reactions at a constant temperature without proteins or other biological materials.

Main Results:

Achieved self-sustained exponential amplification of RNA enzymes with a doubling time of approximately 1 hour.
Demonstrated indefinite amplification and competition for limited resources within the system.
Observed high-fidelity reproduction with occasional recombinant variants, leading to evolutionary adaptation based on fitness.

Conclusions:

This study presents the first non-biological molecular system exhibiting evolutionary adaptation.
The findings support the feasibility of RNA-based self-replication and evolution as a precursor to life.
The system provides a model for studying the fundamental principles of evolution at a molecular level.