which came first...

[rakuenso]

ribosomes or RNA?

 

i'm just confused right now.

[Bluenoise]

Well seeing as how ribosomes contain RNA, RNA came first.

[hyebeh]

yeah... RNA is theorized to be the first molecule capable of storing genetic data.

[dsjgenius]

i guess RNA but the more important question here should be did rRNA come first or was it another type of RNA or ribosomes

[uncool]

RNA is able to synthesize itself, so it does not need the ribosomes.

Also, there is RNA in prokaryotic organisms, which don't have ribosomes, so the RNA must have come first.

-Uncool-

[rakuenso]

RNA is able to synthesize itself' date=' so it does not need the ribosomes.

-Uncool-[/quote']

 

mind elaborating?

[Ophiolite]

Just thinking out loud: RNA probably preceded DNA, functioning as a self replicating system. When (and however)DNA came on the scene , the RNA was coerced into its various current roles, including facilitating protein synthethis in ribosomes. The ribosomes would look pretty silly w/out DNA, so I vote for RNA first.

[donkey]

mind elaborating?

I think he's talking about the RNA world hypothesis.

 

Basically the theory suggests that RNA - which is known to have some catalytic activity as well as, of course, genetic storage capabilities - was the precursor molecule at the origin of life. It has been suggested that RNA molecules could use itself as a template and catalyse the duplication of itself. Then DNA and proteins came along and took over the storage and catalytic roles of RNA, religating it to a messenger and a few other niche roles.

 

see here for details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_world_hypothesis

[aaronmyung]

I have no idea what you are talking about, but it sounds ultra interesting.

I'm off to study it now Hopefully I can come back soon and say something constructive

[Skye]

Also, there is RNA in prokaryotic organisms, which don't have ribosomes, so the RNA must have come first.

Prokaryotes have ribosomes.

[aaronmyung]

I second what Skye said, as if you wouldn't know that Prokaryotes have ribosomes.

[Skye]

There's no need to be smug though, everyone makes mistakes.

[aaronmyung]

I was kidding buddy I dont know anything about this lol

Read sig mate, I'm 16

[aaronmyung]

sorry if I came out rude

[rakuenso]

.......... thx for the wiki link