Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

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?02:05

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...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

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 Transcription01:53

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:
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Limited Sequence Diversity Within a Population Supports Prebiotic RNA Reproduction.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2019
Same author

Mineral surfaces select for longer RNA molecules.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2019
Same author

Spontaneous advent of genetic diversity in RNA populations through multiple recombination mechanisms.

RNA (New York, N.Y.)·2019
Same author

Coupled catabolism and anabolism in autocatalytic RNA sets.

Nucleic acids research·2018
Same author

Spontaneous Covalent Self-Assembly of the Azoarcus Ribozyme from Five Fragments.

Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology·2017
Same author

Prebiotic RNA Network Formation: A Taxonomy of Molecular Cooperation.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2017

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Studying Ribonucleotide Incorporation: Strand-specific Detection of Ribonucleotides in the Yeast Genome and Measuring Ribonucleotide-induced Mutagenesis
09:04

Studying Ribonucleotide Incorporation: Strand-specific Detection of Ribonucleotides in the Yeast Genome and Measuring Ribonucleotide-induced Mutagenesis

Published on: July 26, 2018

RNA in evolution.

Niles Lehman1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, USA. niles@pdx.edu

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. RNA
|September 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

RNA, once overlooked, is now recognized as fundamental to life's evolution. Its catalytic abilities suggest RNA initiated life and drove its diversification through innovations like RNA interference.

More Related Videos

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
07:09

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

Published on: May 28, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Studying Ribonucleotide Incorporation: Strand-specific Detection of Ribonucleotides in the Yeast Genome and Measuring Ribonucleotide-induced Mutagenesis
09:04

Studying Ribonucleotide Incorporation: Strand-specific Detection of Ribonucleotides in the Yeast Genome and Measuring Ribonucleotide-induced Mutagenesis

Published on: July 26, 2018

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
07:09

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

Published on: May 28, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • RNA was historically underestimated compared to DNA and proteins.
  • Recent discoveries highlight RNA's crucial roles in cellular functions.
  • RNA's catalytic ability (possessing genotype and phenotype) is key.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the pivotal role of RNA in the evolutionary history of life.
  • To investigate the origins of life and subsequent biological diversification driven by RNA.
  • To trace the evolutionary roots of modern RNA functions back to an 'RNA World'.

Main Methods:

  • Review of key discoveries in RNA biology over the last 50 years.
  • Analysis of RNA's catalytic capabilities and its implications for early life.
  • Examination of RNA-based innovations such as riboswitches, RNPs, RNA editing, and RNAi.

Main Results:

  • RNA is a cornerstone of biological function, not merely a precursor.
  • The 'RNA World' hypothesis is supported by RNA's dual genotype-phenotype capacity.
  • Modern RNA functions evolved from primordial catalytic activities.

Conclusions:

  • Life's origins likely involved RNA, with subsequent evolution driven by RNA innovations.
  • RNA's diverse functions are linked by a continuous evolutionary thread from the 'RNA World'.
  • Understanding RNA's ancient roles provides insight into the fundamental mechanisms of life.