Artificial molecule evolves in the lab

New Scientist ^ | January 8, 2009 | Ewen Callaway

[Coyoteman]

A new molecule that performs the essential function of life - self-replication - could shed light on the origin of all living things.

If that wasn't enough, the laboratory-born ribonucleic acid (RNA) strand evolves in a test tube to double itself ever more swiftly.

"Obviously what we're trying to do is make a biology," says Gerald Joyce, a biochemist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. He hopes to imbue his team's molecule with all the fundamental properties of life: self-replication, evolution, and function.

Joyce and colleague Tracey Lincoln made their chemical out of RNA because most researchers think early life stored information in this sister molecule to DNA. And unlike the stuff of our genomes, RNA molecules can catalyse chemical reactions.

"We're trying to jump in at the last signpost we have back there in the early history of life," Joyce says.

Continues...

[the invisib1e hand]

clearly the important facts are being left out.

[ClearCase_guy]

evolves in a test tube to double itself ever more swiftly.

I was making bread the other day and after I added the yeast, my dough evolved very swiftly.

[theDentist]

Immediately the ACLU files suit to give it legal standing and benefits.

[mnehring]

bfltr

[UglyinLA]

This is like taking a box of Betty Crocker cake mix, adding water, and saying Whoa I created a cake.

[Westbrook]

After the efforts of thousands of scientists all over the world involving millions of man-hours of dedicated research using billions of dollars worth of the latest hi-tech biogen equipment, a primitive RNA molecule, based on existing RNA molecules, has been synthesized, proving once and for all that no intelligence is necessary for life to have started abiogenically.

[allmendream]

Very interesting.

[editor-surveyor]

Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!

[editor-surveyor]

Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!

[editor-surveyor]

Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!

[editor-surveyor]

Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!

[editor-surveyor]

Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!

[Coyoteman]

You could ping all of those folks in a single post. Put all the names in the “To” box separated by “;” — or are you deliberately spamming the thread?

[mgstarr]

I can’t stand these so-called scientists with absolutely no background in theology attempting to explain the origins of life...

[editor-surveyor]

"After the efforts of thousands of scientists all over the world involving millions of man-hours of dedicated research using billions of dollars worth of the latest hi-tech biogen equipment, a primitive RNA molecule, based on existing RNA molecules, has been synthesized, proving once and for all that no intelligence is necessary for life to have started abiogenically."

Are you questioning the intelligence of those millions of "scientists?"

[editor-surveyor]

I believe in treating people as individuals, not as countless vermin.

[GunRunner]

I’m pretty sure he’s on your side; he’s inviting freeper creationists to come and discuss.

[El Cid]

I took it as a sarcastic dig...

[theFIRMbss]

>Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!
>Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!
>Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!
>Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!
>Put on your hip waders; its running deep in here !!!!!

>>I believe in treating people as individuals, not as countless vermin

Individuals?
You mean like how you gave them
each their own message?

(You didn't even
alter the number of bangs
after each text line!)