Cairns-Smith, A. G. (2008) Chemistry and the missing era of evolution. Chemistry: A European Journal, 14(13), pp. 3830-3839. (doi: 10.1002/chem.200701215 Univ Glasgow, Dept Chem, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Lanark, Scotland.)
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Abstract
The Darwinian evolution of life on earth depends utterly on complex molecular machinery, which, it seems, could only have arisen through a Darwinian evolution. The "RNA world" idea reduces this paradox, but requires a geochemically implausible supply of RNA monomers. A pre-RNA era of natural selection is implied. I suggest that originally this was based on inorganic materials that came to replicate permutations with specific (e.g. catalytic) effects.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | chemical biology CHEMISTRY COMPLEX COMPLEXES crystal growth DIHYDROFOLATE-REDUCTASE DIRECTED EVOLUTION DYNAMICS ENZYME CATALYSIS enzymes EVOLUTION HYPOTHESIS inorganic chemistry LIFE MINERALS MOLECULE NUCLEIC-ACIDS ORIGIN RNA WORLD SELECTION |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Cairns-Smith, Dr Graham |
| Authors: | Cairns-Smith, A. G. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry |
| Journal Name: | Chemistry: A European Journal |
| Journal Abbr.: | Chem. Eur J. |
| ISSN: | 0947-6539 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1521-3765 |
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