I just came across this abstract:
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are responsible for creatingthe pool of correctly charged aminoacyl-tRNAs that are necessaryfor the translation of genetic information (mRNA) by the ribosome.Each aaRS belongs to either one of only two classes with twodifferent mechanisms of aminoacylation, making use of either the29OH (Class I) or the 39OH (Class II) of the terminal A76 of thetRNA and approaching the tRNA either from the minor groove (29OH)or the major groove (39OH). Here, an asymmetric pattern typical ofdifferentiation is uncovered in the partition of the codonrepertoire, as defined by the mechanism of aminoacylation of eachcorresponding tRNA. This pattern can be reproduced in a uniquecascade of successive binary decisions that progressively reducescodon ambiguity. The deduced order of differentiation is manifestlydriven by the reduction of translation errors. A simple rule can bedefined, decoding each codon sequence in its binary class, therebyproviding both the code and the key to decode it. Assuming that thepartition into two mechanisms of tRNA aminoacylation is a relicthat dates back to the invention of the genetic code in the RNAWorld, a model for the assignment of amino acids in the codon tablecan be derived. The model implies that the stop codon was alwaysthere, as the codon whose tRNA cannot be charged with any aminoacid, and makes the prediction of an ultimate differentiation step,which is found to correspond to the codon assignment of the 22ndamino acid pyrrolysine in archaebacteria.
Granted, this is a few years old, but I often find myself havingto admit that "I don't know" when at the root of discussions onevolution. That is, once abiogenesis has occurred, we can go on andexplain the rich diversity of life, but sadly we really don't knowmuch before that critical step. Generally, those satisfied with"magic" as an answer posit their myths and fables, whereas I'drather try to actually find out what happened. Sadly, as theabstract shows, you actually need a level of education tounderstand papers such as this that is generally well beyond thosewho would deny the reality of evolution.
Does anyone have a collection of papers on abiogenesis that aremore accessible and understandable to laypeople?
I just came across this abstract:
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are responsible for creatingthe pool of correctly charged aminoacyl-tRNAs that are necessaryfor the translation of genetic information (mRNA) by the ribosome.Each aaRS belongs to either one of only two classes with twodifferent mechanisms of aminoacylation, making use of either the29OH (Class I) or the 39OH (Class II) of the terminal A76 of thetRNA and approaching the tRNA either from the minor groove (29OH)or the major groove (39OH). Here, an asymmetric pattern typical ofdifferentiation is uncovered in the partition of the codonrepertoire, as defined by the mechanism of aminoacylation of eachcorresponding tRNA. This pattern can be reproduced in a uniquecascade of successive binary decisions that progressively reducescodon ambiguity. The deduced order of differentiation is manifestlydriven by the reduction of translation errors. A simple rule can bedefined, decoding each codon sequence in its binary class, therebyproviding both the code and the key to decode it. Assuming that thepartition into two mechanisms of tRNA aminoacylation is a relicthat dates back to the invention of the genetic code in the RNAWorld, a model for the assignment of amino acids in the codon tablecan be derived. The model implies that the stop codon was alwaysthere, as the codon whose tRNA cannot be charged with any aminoacid, and makes the prediction of an ultimate differentiation step,which is found to correspond to the codon assignment of the 22ndamino acid pyrrolysine in archaebacteria.
Granted, this is a few years old, but I often find myself havingto admit that "I don't know" when at the root of discussions onevolution. That is, once abiogenesis has occurred, we can go on andexplain the rich diversity of life, but sadly we really don't knowmuch before that critical step. Generally, those satisfied with"magic" as an answer posit their myths and fables, whereas I'drather try to actually find out what happened. Sadly, as theabstract shows, you actually need a level of education tounderstand papers such as this that is generally well beyond thosewho would deny the reality of evolution.
Does anyone have a collection of papers on abiogenesis that aremore accessible and understandable to laypeople?
