On the fundamental nature and evolution of the genetic code
Abstract
The present symposium defines clearly the current state of our knowledge of the genetic code. On one level we possess a high degree of comprehension of the code. And continuation of the present lines of research (based for the most part upon certain in vitro systems plus complementing in vivo studies) promises soon to complete our understanding of the code on this level. We now know, for example, essentially all of the codon assignments; we are making significant strides in elucidating the genetic sequences concerned with punctuation and modulation and with the (possibly) related phenomenon of relative codon usage; and we are beginning to understand the complex mechanisms involved in gene transcription and translation.
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The RNA world theory posits that RNA fulfilled both catalysis and information storage during an early stage of life.
“The RNA world theory posits that RNA fulfilled both of the major cellular functions, catalysis and information storage, during an early stage of life (1–3).”
From The prebiotic evolutionary advantage of transferring genetic information from RNA to DNA (2011) · cites this paper as [1]
The biology of modern organisms is based on RNA, DNA and proteins, but this biochemistry was probably preceded by a stage in which RNA molecules acted both as chemical catalysts and carriers of genetic information.
“The biology of modern organisms is based on RNA, DNA and proteins, but this biochemistry was probably preceded by a stage in which RNA molecules acted both as chemical catalysts and carriers of genetic information.”
From Prebiotically plausible mechanisms increase compositional diversity of nucleic acid sequences (2012) · cites this paper as [4]
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- Authors
- Woese, C. R., Dugre, D. H., Dugre, S. A., Kondo, M., & Saxinger, W. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Venue
- Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Published
- 1966-01-01
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 0
- Pages
- 723-736
- ISSN
- 0091-7451 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-4456
- OpenAlex
- W2027298209
- Cited by
- 274
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- 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
- Keywords
- genetic code, codon assignment, codon usage bias, gene transcription, translation (biology), in vitro translation system, genetic code evolution
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acids, Chemistry, Biological Evolution, Genetic Code, Models, Biological, Ribosomes, RNA, Transfer, Chemical Phenomena
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