A Simpler Origin for Life

Shapiro, Robert

doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0607-46

Cited by 125Origins and Evolution of LifeRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsEvolution and Genetic Dynamics

A Simpler Origin for Life

Shapiro, Robert·2007·Scientific American

DOI 10.1038/scientificamerican0607-46

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The RNA world hypothesis faces formidable difficulties, primarily the immense challenge of RNA synthesis under plausible prebiotic conditions.
“Despite the conceptual elegance of the RNA world, this hypothesis faces formidable difficulties, primarily the immense challenge of RNA synthesis under plausible prebiotic conditions [22,40,41].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [40]
Initially, all mononucleotides were randomly polymerized into short oligonucleotides of different lengths by peptide bonding.
“Initially, all of these mononucleotides were randomly polymerized into short oligonucleotides of different lengths by peptide bonding [40].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [40]

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Authors: Shapiro, R.
Affiliations: New York University (US)
Corresponding author: Shapiro, Robert
Venue: Scientific American
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2007-06
Volume: 296
Issue: 6
Pages: 46-53
ISSN: 0036-8733 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1038/scientificamerican0607-46
OpenAlex: W2054282731
Cited by: 125
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
FWCI: 5.37
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Scientific American (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Keywords: origin of life, prebiotic chemistry
MeSH terms: Origin of Life, DNA, Energy Metabolism, Genetic Code, RNA, Evolution, Molecular, Life

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