To investigate this, they introduced random mutations into the hairpin RNA, shortened it from its normal length of 58 bases, and even cut it into pieces — all in an effort to produce RNA enzymes that were as dodgy and imperfect as early Earth's first enzymes likely were. (discovermagazine.com)
That is a good start, but it leaves unanswered the question: How do you get from tiny snippets of RNA to longer, well - crafted chains that could have acted as the first enzymes, doing fancy things like copying themselves The shortest RNA enzyme chains known today are about 50 bases long; most have more than 100. (discovermagazine.com)
This week, we have stories on how ultraviolet rays may have jump - started the first enzymes on Earth, a new fossil find that helps date how quickly birds diversified after the extinction of all the other dinosaurs, and a drug that may help reverse the effects of traumatic brain injury on memory with Online News Editor Catherine Matacic and special guest Carolyn Gramling. (sciencemag.org)