Biomaterial Database

Paradoxes of early stages of evolution of life and biological complexity. 2015

Alexey V Melkikh

Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia, Mira str. 19, melkikh2008@rambler.ru.

Two of the most fundamental questions concerning the origin of life, how biologically important molecules (RNA, proteins) find their unique spatial configuration, and how coding sequences can evolve beyond a certain critical length, are discussed. It is shown that both of these problems have not been solved. Experiments that could clarify the mechanisms of interaction between biologically important molecules in the simplest cells are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D003062	Codon	A set of three nucleotides in a protein coding sequence that specifies individual amino acids or a termination signal (CODON, TERMINATOR). Most codons are universal, but some organisms do not produce the transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER) complementary to all codons. These codons are referred to as unassigned codons (CODONS, NONSENSE).	Codon, Sense,Sense Codon,Codons,Codons, Sense,Sense Codons
D000069497	Origin of Life	The process by which life began.	Prebiotic Chemical Evolution,Genesis of Life,Chemical Evolution, Prebiotic,Evolution, Prebiotic Chemical,Life Genesis,Life Origin,Life Origins,Prebiotic Chemical Evolutions
D012313	RNA	A polynucleotide consisting essentially of chains with a repeating backbone of phosphate and ribose units to which nitrogenous bases are attached. RNA is unique among biological macromolecules in that it can encode genetic information, serve as an abundant structural component of cells, and also possesses catalytic activity. (Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed)	RNA, Non-Polyadenylated,Ribonucleic Acid,Gene Products, RNA,Non-Polyadenylated RNA,Acid, Ribonucleic,Non Polyadenylated RNA,RNA Gene Products,RNA, Non Polyadenylated