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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis01:28

ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis

Biological macromolecules are organic compounds, predominantly composed of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are covalently bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other minor elements. There are four major biological macromolecule classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...

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Rapid Characterization of Genetic Parts with Cell-Free Systems
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Rapid Characterization of Genetic Parts with Cell-Free Systems

Published on: August 30, 2021

Primitive genetic polymers.

Aaron E Engelhart1, Nicholas V Hud

  • 1School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|May 14, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The study questions if RNA, like DNA, evolved. Research suggests RNA components may have been refined by evolution, hinting at a proto-RNA with different chemical and structural features for early life.

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Area of Science:

  • Origin of Life Studies
  • Prebiotic Chemistry
  • Molecular Evolution

Background:

  • Watson-Crick base pairing is theorized for early genetic polymers.
  • Catalytic RNA supports RNA as the first biopolymer.
  • De novo RNA synthesis via prebiotic chemistry is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate if RNA, similar to DNA, is a product of evolution.
  • Explore potential chemical and structural features of a proto-RNA.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental investigations using synthetic and physical organic chemistry.
  • Analysis of variations in nucleobases, sugars, and linkage chemistry of nucleic acids.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests current nucleic acid components (nucleobases, [deoxy]ribose, phosphate esters) are optimized for their roles.
  • This optimization implies a history of evolutionary refinement.

Conclusions:

  • RNA's components appear to be products of evolutionary selection.
  • Further research is needed on advantageous features for a hypothetical proto-RNA.