PNA World Hypothesis
It has been hypothesized that the earliest life on Earth may have used PNA as a genetic material due to its extreme robustness, simpler formation and possible spontaneous polymerization at 100°C (while water at standard pressure boils at this temperature, water at high pressure—as in deep ocean—boils at higher temperatures). If this is so, life evolved to a DNA/RNA-based system only at a later stage. Evidence for this PNA world hypothesis is however far from conclusive. See RNA world hypothesis for related information.
Read more about this topic: Peptide Nucleic Acid
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or hypothesis:
“You may drive a dog off the Kings armchair, and it will climb into the preachers pulpit; he views the world unmoved, unembarrassed, unabashed.”
—Jean De La Bruyère (16451696)
“The wheels and springs of man are all set to the hypothesis of the permanence of nature. We are not built like a ship to be tossed, but like a house to stand.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)