Question 1: Peptide nucleic acids and the origin and homochirality of life

Peter E. Nielsen

doi:10.1007/s11084-007-9105-2

Question 1: Peptide nucleic acids and the origin and homochirality of life

Transcription, RNA, and Gene Medicine Program

Abstract

The possibilities of pseudo peptide DNA mimics like PNA (peptide nucleic acid) having a role for the prebiotic origin of life prior to an RNA world is discussed. In particular a scenario is proposed in which protocells with an achiral genetic material through several generations stepwise is converted into a chiral genetic material, e.g., by incorporation of RNA units. Provided that a sufficiently large sequence space is occupied, a selection process based on catalytic function in which a single cell (first common ancestor) has a definite evolutionary advantage, selection of this cell would by contingency also lock it into homochirality.

Original language	English
Journal	Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres
Volume	37
Issue number	4-5
Pages (from-to)	323-8
Number of pages	6
ISSN	0169-6149
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11084-007-9105-2
Publication status	Published - Oct 2007

Keywords

Biological Evolution
Life
Molecular Conformation
Molecular Structure
Origin of Life
Peptide Nucleic Acids/chemistry
RNA/chemistry

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10.1007/s11084-007-9105-2

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abstract = "The possibilities of pseudo peptide DNA mimics like PNA (peptide nucleic acid) having a role for the prebiotic origin of life prior to an RNA world is discussed. In particular a scenario is proposed in which protocells with an achiral genetic material through several generations stepwise is converted into a chiral genetic material, e.g., by incorporation of RNA units. Provided that a sufficiently large sequence space is occupied, a selection process based on catalytic function in which a single cell (first common ancestor) has a definite evolutionary advantage, selection of this cell would by contingency also lock it into homochirality.",

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AB - The possibilities of pseudo peptide DNA mimics like PNA (peptide nucleic acid) having a role for the prebiotic origin of life prior to an RNA world is discussed. In particular a scenario is proposed in which protocells with an achiral genetic material through several generations stepwise is converted into a chiral genetic material, e.g., by incorporation of RNA units. Provided that a sufficiently large sequence space is occupied, a selection process based on catalytic function in which a single cell (first common ancestor) has a definite evolutionary advantage, selection of this cell would by contingency also lock it into homochirality.

KW - Biological Evolution

KW - Life

KW - Molecular Conformation

KW - Molecular Structure

KW - Origin of Life

KW - Peptide Nucleic Acids/chemistry

KW - RNA/chemistry

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JO - Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres

JF - Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres

IS - 4-5

ER -

Question 1: Peptide nucleic acids and the origin and homochirality of life

Abstract

Keywords

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