Journal
lNicole Cofield Journal 9-18-11
“A Specific Scenario for the Origin of Life and the Genetic Code Based on Peptide/Oligonucleotide Interdependence”
Citation Information
Article Title: A specific Scenario for the Origin of Life and the Genetic Code Based on Peptide/Oligonucleotide Interdependence
Year published: 2009
Authors: Robert W. Griffith
Authors Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Darmouth
Publication: Springer Science
Introduction
Central question/hypothesis: Life's origin is based on cooperation between simple nucleic acids, peptides and lipids.
Significance: Proposes an alternate theory to the RNA world theory that will help biologists find a true explanation that can be proven about the origin of life.
Methods
Description: The physical and chemical environment was responsible for the generation of peptides and nucleic acids and so the pre-biotic and proto-biotic environmental conditions are addressed. He made a model of the protobiont – a simple ancestor. The protobiont was meant to “define molecular composition, replicate, convert environmental energy into macromelecular bond energy, be cohesive allowing functional components to interact, suggest how the genetic code originated, be plausible in terms of realistic prebiotic conditions, not rely on contrivances absent from extant living organisms be subject to evolution via natural selection and be testable.” The theory of life according to this study occurred sometime either before of at the very beginning of the formation of continental crust. He had to explain not only how the first organisms got on earth and how they functioned but also how and why they transformed into DNA/protein based organisms.
Independent and dependent variables: He mentions the type of environment they are in. He talks about he “reducing atmosphere” which he places the protobiont in under prebiotic and protobiotic conditions. The scenario took place sometime soon after the
“A Specific Scenario for the Origin of Life and the Genetic Code Based on Peptide/Oligonucleotide Interdependence”
Citation Information
Article Title: A specific Scenario for the Origin of Life and the Genetic Code Based on Peptide/Oligonucleotide Interdependence
Year published: 2009
Authors: Robert W. Griffith
Authors Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Darmouth
Publication: Springer Science
Introduction
Central question/hypothesis: Life's origin is based on cooperation between simple nucleic acids, peptides and lipids.
Significance: Proposes an alternate theory to the RNA world theory that will help biologists find a true explanation that can be proven about the origin of life.
Methods
Description: The physical and chemical environment was responsible for the generation of peptides and nucleic acids and so the pre-biotic and proto-biotic environmental conditions are addressed. He made a model of the protobiont – a simple ancestor. The protobiont was meant to “define molecular composition, replicate, convert environmental energy into macromelecular bond energy, be cohesive allowing functional components to interact, suggest how the genetic code originated, be plausible in terms of realistic prebiotic conditions, not rely on contrivances absent from extant living organisms be subject to evolution via natural selection and be testable.” The theory of life according to this study occurred sometime either before of at the very beginning of the formation of continental crust. He had to explain not only how the first organisms got on earth and how they functioned but also how and why they transformed into DNA/protein based organisms.
Independent and dependent variables: He mentions the type of environment they are in. He talks about he “reducing atmosphere” which he places the protobiont in under prebiotic and protobiotic conditions. The scenario took place sometime soon after the