The Immortal Molecule
By Mark Schrope
Vol 9. Issue 1 / January 12, 2009
One of the most enduring questions is how life could have begun on Earth. Molecules that can make copies of themselves are thought to be crucial to understanding this process as they provide the basis for heritability, a critical characteristic of living systems. Now, a pair of Scripps Research Institute scientists has taken a significant step toward answering that question. The scientists have synthesized for the first time RNA enzymes that can replicate themselves without the help of any proteins or other cellular components, and the process proceeds indefinitely. Full article |
 "This is the only case outside biology where molecular information has been immortalized," says Professor Gerald Joyce (right), who conducted the research with Kellogg School graduate student Tracey Lincoln.
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