[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/
Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

RNA evolution and the origins of life

Nature volume 338, pages 217–224 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

The evolution of RNA is likely to have played an important role in the very early history of life on Earth but it is doubtful that life began with RNA. Consideration of what came before RNA must take into account relevant information from geochemistry, prebiotic chemistry and nucleic acid biochemistry.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Walter, M. R. in Earth's Earliest Biosphere (ed Schopf, J. W.) 187–213 (Princeton University Press, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Miller, S. L. Science 117, 528–529 (1953).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Oró, J. Nature 191, 1193–1194 (1961).

    ADS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kruger, K. et al. Cell 31, 147–157 (1982).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Guerrier-Takada, C., Gardiner, K., Marsh, T., Pace, N. & Altman, S. Cell 35, 849–857 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Quastler, H. The Emergence of Biological Organization Ch. 1 (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Woese, C. The Genetic Code Ch. 7 (Harper & Row, New York, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Crick, F. H. C. J. molec. Biol. 38, 367–379 (1968).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 38, 381–393 (1968).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Sharp, P. A. Cell 42, 397–400 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lewin, R. Science 231, 545–546 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gilbert, W. Nature 319, 618 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cairns-Smith, A. G. J. theor. Biol. 10, 53–88 (1966).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nelsestuen, G. L. J. molec. Evol. 15, 59–72 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Weber, A. L. Origins of Life 17, 107–119 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Orgel, L. E. Origins of Life 17, 27–34 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Oparin, A. I. Adv. Enzymol. 27, 347–380 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Fox, S. W. & Dose, K. Molecular Evolution and the Origin of Life (Dekker, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dyson, F. J. J. molec. Evol. 18, 344–350 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kauffman, S. A. J. theor. Biol. 119, 1–24 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Inoue, T. & Orgel, L. E. Science 219, 859–862 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Peebles, C. L., Mecklenberg, K. L., Perlman, P. S., Tabor, J. & Cheng, H. L. Cell 44, 213–223 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Uhlenbeck, O. C. Nature 328, 596–600 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Sharmeen, L., Kuo, M. Y. P., Dinter-Gottlieb, G. & Taylor, J. J. Virol. 62, 2674–2679 (1988).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Sharp, P. A. Science 235, 766–771 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Maniatis, T. & Reed, R. Nature 325, 673–678 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Greider, C. W. & Blackburn, E. H. Cell 51, 887–898 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. White, H. B. J. molec. Evol. 7, 101–104 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Eigen, M. Naturwiss. 58, 465–523 (1971).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Shapiro, R. Origins of Life 14, 565–570 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Papanastassiou, D. A. & Wasserburg, G. J. Earth planet Sci. Lett 11, 37–62 (1971).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ernst, W. G. in Earth's Earliest Biosphere (ed Schopf, J. W.) 41–52 (Princeton University Press, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Maher, K. A. & Stevenson, D. J. Nature 331, 612–614 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Buick, R., Dunlop, J. S. R. & Groves, D. I. Alcheringa 5, 161–181 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Schidlowski, M., Appel, P. W. U., Eichmann, R. & Junge, C. E. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 43, 189–199 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Dickerson, R. E. Sci. Am. 239, 70–86 (1978).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hayes, J. M. in Earth's Earliest Biosphere (ed Schopf, J. W.) 291–301 (Princeton University Press, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Chang, S., DesMarais, D., Mack, R., Miller, S. L. & Strathearn, G. E. in Earth's Earliest Biosphere (ed Schopf, J. W. ) 53–92 (Princeton University Press, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Levine, J. S. & Augustsson, T. R. Origins of Life 15, 299–318 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Deines, P. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 943–961 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Oró, J. Nature 190, 389–390 (1961).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Borowska, Z. & Mauzerall, D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 6577–6580 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Stribling, R. & Miller, S. L. Origins of Life 17, 261–273 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Miller, S. L. & Urey, H. C. Science 130, 245–251 (1959).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Zahnle, K. J. J. geophys. Res. 91, 2819–2834.

  46. Pinto, J. P., Gladstone, G. R. & Young, Y. L. Science 210, 183–185 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Bernal, J. D. The Physical Basis of Life 34 (Rouledge & Kegan Paul, London, 1951).

  48. Sanchez, R., Ferris, J. & Orgel, L. E. Science 153, 72–73 (1966).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Schwartz, A. W. & Goverde, M. J. molec. Evol. 18, 351–353 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Sanchez, R. A. Ferris, J. P. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 30, 223–253 (1967).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Ferris, J. P. & Orgel, L. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 88, 1074 (1966).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Ferris, J. P. & Hagan, W. J. Tetrahedron 40, 1093–1120 (1984).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Schlesinger, G. & Miller, S. L. J. molec. Evol. 19, 376–382 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Gabel, N. W. & Ponnamperuma, C. Nature 216, 453–455 (1967).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Reid, C. & Orgel, L. E. Nature 216, 455 (1967).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Mizuno, T. & Weiss, A. H. Adv. Carbohyd. Chem. Biochem. 29, 173–227 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Mopper, K., Dawson, R., Liebezeit, G. & Ittekkot, V. Mar. Chem. 10, 55–66 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Sanchez, R. A., Ferris, J. P. & Orgel, L. E. Science 154, 784–785 (1966).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Ferris, J. P., Zamek, O. S., Altbuch, A. M. & Freiman, H. J. molec. Evol. 3, 301–309 (1974).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Shapiro, R. & Klein, R. S. Biochemistry 5, 2358–2362 (1966).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Ferris, J. P., Joshi, P. C., Edelson, E. H. & Lawless, J. G. J. molec. Evol. 11, 293–311 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Ferris, J. P. & Joshi, P. C. J. Org. Chem. 44, 2133–2137 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Chittenden, G. J. F. & Schwartz, A. W. Nature 263, 350–351 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Hill, A. R., Nord, L. D., Orgel, L. E. & Robins, R. K. J. molec. Evol. 28, 170–171 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Fuller, W. D., Sanchez, R. A. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 67, 25–33 (1972).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Orgel, L. E. & Lohrmann, R. Accounts Chem. Res. 7, 368–377 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Osterberg, R., Orgel, L. E. & Lohrmann, R. J. molec. Evol. 2, 231 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Lohrmann, R. & Orgel, L. E. Science 171, 490–494 (1971).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Lohrmann, R. & Orgel, L. E. Science 161, 64–66 (1968).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Bishop, M. J., Lohrmann, R. & Orgel, L. E. Nature 237, 162–164 (1972).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Verlander, M. S., Lohrmann, R. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Evol. 2, 303–316 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Usher, D. A. Nature New Biology 235, 207 (1972).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Buzayan, J. M., Gerlach, W. L. & Bruening, G. Nature 323, 349–353 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Wu, H-N. & Lai, M. M. C. Science 243, 652–654 (1989).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Saygin, O. Naturwiss. 67, 617–619 (1981).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  76. Jones, M. E. & Lipmann, F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 46, 1194–1205 (1960).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Lohrmann, R. J. molec. Evol. 6, 237–252 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Joyce, G. F., Schwartz, A. W., Miller, S. L. & Orgel, L. E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 4398–4402 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Joyce, G. F. et al. Nature 310, 602–604 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Praseuth, D. et al. J. molec. Biol. 196, 939–942 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Calvin, M. Chemical Evolution (Oxford University Press, New York, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  82. Harsch, G., Harsch, M., Bauer, H. & Voelter, W. Z. Naturforsch. 38B, 1269–1280 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Morowitz, H. J., Heinz, B. & Deamer, D. Origins of Life 18, 281–287 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Cairns-Smith, A. G. in Origin of Life: Proceedings of the Second ISSOL Meeting, Kyoto. Japan (ed Noda, H.) 399–404 (Center for Academic Publications, Tokyo, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  85. Spach, G. Origins of Life 14, 433–437 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Wächtershäuser, G. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 1134–1135 (1988).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  87. Orgel, L. E. in Evolutionary Tinkering in Gene Expression (ed Grunberg-Manago, M.) (Plenum, London, in the press).

  88. Schwartz, A. W. & Orgel, L. E. Science 228, 585–587 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Weiner, A. M. & Maizels, N. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 7383–7387 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  90. Joyce, G. F. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 188, 433–441 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Joyce, G. F. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. quant. Biol. 52, 41–51 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Joyce, G. F., Inoue, T. & Orgel, L. E. J. molec. Biol. 176, 279–306 (1984).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Cech, T. R. Science 236, 1532–1539 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Pace, N. R. & Marsh, T. L. Origins of Life 16, 97–116 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Dock-Bregeon, A. C. et al. Nature 335, 375–378 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Arnott, S. & Hukins, D. W. L. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 48, 1392–1399 (1972).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, 10666North Torrey Pines Road, LaJolla, California, 92037, USA

    Gerald F. Joyce

Authors
  1. Gerald F. Joyce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Joyce, G. RNA evolution and the origins of life. Nature 338, 217–224 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/338217a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/338217a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing