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Cited by 34Origins and Evolution of LifeEvolution and Genetic DynamicsRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

The origins of cellular life

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Koonin, Eugene V.·2014·Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
DOI 10.1007/s10482-014-0169-5PMC PMC7087693
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Abstract

All life on earth can be naturally classified into cellular life forms and virus-like selfish elements, the latter being fully dependent on the former for their reproduction. Cells are reproducers that not only replicate their genome but also reproduce the cellular organization that depends on semipermeable, energy-transforming membranes and cannot be recovered from the genome alone, under the famous dictum of Rudolf Virchow, Omnis cellula e cellula. In contrast, simple selfish elements are replicators that can complete their life cycles within the host cell starting from genomic RNA or DNA alone. The origin of the cellular organization is the central and perhaps the hardest problem of evolutionary biology. I argue that the origin of cells can be understood only in conjunction with the origin and evolution of selfish genetic elements. A scenario of precellular evolution is presented that involves cohesion of the genomes of the emerging cellular life forms from primordial pools of small genetic elements that eventually segregated into hosts and parasites. I further present a model of the coevolution of primordial membranes and membrane proteins, discuss protocellular and non-cellular models of early evolution, and examine the habitats on the primordial earth that could have been conducive to precellular evolution and the origin of cells.

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  • All living entities in the current biosphere can be classified as cellular life forms and virus-like elements.

    “All living entities in our current biosphere can be classified as cellular life forms and virus-like elements [135].”

    From Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems (2024) · cites this paper as [135]

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Authors
Koonin, E. V.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Koonin, Eugene V.
ORCID
Koonin, Eugene V.
Venue
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2014-04-23
Volume
106
Issue
1
Pages
27-41
ISSN
  • 0003-6072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1572-9699
DOI
10.1007/s10482-014-0169-5
PMC
PMC7087693
OpenAlex
W1994716811
Cited by
34
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 5
FWCI
0.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • U.S. National Library of Medicine
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Keywords
origin of cellular life, selfish genetic elements, protocells, membrane evolution, membrane proteins
MeSH terms
Origin of Life, Bacteria, DNA Replication, Biological Evolution, Viruses

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