Life’s First Molecule Was Protein, Not RNA, New Model Suggests
The findings add to the longstanding debate over which were the first self-replicating molecules
By Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine on November 12, 2017
From Quanta Magazine (find original story here).
Proteins have generally taken a back seat to RNA molecules in scientists’ speculations about how life on Earth started. Yet a new computational model that describes how early biopolymers could have grown long enough to fold into useful shapes may change that. If it holds up, the model, which is now guiding laboratory experiments for confirmation, could re-establish the reputation of proteins as the original self-replicating biomolecule.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/life-rsquo-s-first-molecule-was-protein-not-rna-new-model-suggests/
