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Efficient Heritable Gene Expression Readily Evolves in RNA Pools.

Michael Yarus1

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0347, USA. yarus@stripe.colorado.edu.

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|July 3, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Heritable gene expression emerged rapidly in a non-genetic system using ribonucleotides. Selection favored templating, demonstrating a pathway to proto-genetic inheritance even under unstable conditions.

Keywords:
Chance utilityConstant hazardCross-templatingOrigin of lifeRNA catalysis

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Area of Science:

  • Origin of Life Studies
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Systems Chemistry

Background:

  • Understanding the transition from non-living chemistry to self-replicating systems is crucial for abiogenesis research.
  • Small RNA molecules are implicated as potential early genetic materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the emergence of heritable gene expression in a simplified, non-genetic system.
  • To explore the role of selection in driving evolutionary progress towards proto-genetic inheritance.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized pooled cross-templating ribonucleotides with varying chemical competence.
  • Simulated environmental hazards (periodic and constant) to assess selection pressures.
  • Employed computational modeling to analyze evolutionary dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Heritable gene expression arose readily in the ribonucleotide system.
  • Selection rapidly favored templating, leading to amplified products.
  • Proto-genetic inheritance emerged within days/weeks, even with unstable nucleotide supply.
  • Constant environmental hazards enhanced selection effectiveness.

Conclusions:

  • A plausible molecular basis for pre-genetic inheritance exists, driven by template catalysis and selection.
  • Environmental instability can accelerate the appearance of primordial gene-like behavior.
  • This system provides a model for the early stages of molecular evolution.