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How old is the genetic code? Statistical geometry of tRNA provides an answer.

M Eigen¹, B F Lindemann, M Tietze

¹Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|May 12, 1989

Summary

The genetic code, essential for life, is nearly as old as Earth itself. Analysis of transfer RNA suggests its divergence began around the time early bacteria separated.

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Astrobiology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

The origin and age of the genetic code are fundamental questions in understanding life's beginnings.
Estimating the age of molecular systems provides insights into early evolutionary processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To estimate the age of the genetic code using experimental data.
To infer the timeline of early life's molecular organization.

Main Methods:

Comparative sequence analysis of transfer RNA (tRNA).
Application of statistical geometry in sequence space.

Main Results:

Approximately one-third of current tRNA sequence divergence existed at the urkingdom level.

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This divergence point coincides with the separation of archaebacteria and eubacteria.

Conclusions:

The genetic code is not older than, but nearly as old as, planet Earth.
Interpretable data now exist to infer early life stages, including genetic code establishment.