The oldest molecule in life

2001/05/18 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Genetika

Scientists have verified during the trials the autocopy capacity of the RNA molecule.

What is life? From a biochemical point of view, it is the capacity of a molecule to be copied. It is a precise definition and thus biological systems are understood. But by analyzing the supports of life, clear information about the origin of life cannot be extracted.

Life is mainly based on proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). The function of DNA is to store information to make proteins. But proteins are necessary to make this information and new proteins. This means that the DNA molecule is not able to maintain by itself the processes of life, it needs the help of proteins.

Proteins carry out a work of synthesis, but the information to carry it out is stored in nucleic acids, so they cannot resist life without nucleic acid. Therefore, a problem similar to that of chicken and egg arises.

However, the solution comes from a discovery that occurred decades ago. The RNA was discovered the catalytic ability to be a nucleic acid that can act as a protein. And of course, being a nucleic acid, they keep information. Therefore, the solution to the problem could be that the same RNA was the first molecule of life.

Although this conclusion was in the field of theory, now some scientists have been able to verify in their sessions that the RNA has that capacity. As presented in the specialized journal Science, this molecule could be a prehistoric copier and, therefore, it is the origin of life. In any case, also in the RNA research, a great advance can be considered.