Sprecher
Beschreibung
Lijun Zhou
The emergence of life requires a genetic system capable of information transfer, self-assembly, and heritable function. On Earth, RNA fulfills these requirements, forming the basis of the RNA World hypothesis. Alternative genetic polymers provide an opportunity to explore how changes in nucleic acid chemistry may influence properties relevant to molecular evolution.
In this talk, I will present recent progress on RNA analogues that support rapid nonenzymatic primer extension and molecular self-assembly while remaining compatible with in vitro evolution in the test tube. Although such systems may not necessarily be considered candidates for life on early Earth, they offer an opportunity to experimentally examine life-like behaviors in an abiotic setting. These studies may provide alternative models for investigating questions surrounding the RNA World and Darwinian evolution.