Familiar with the concept of contemporary biology deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Both are regarded as the molecular basis of life in which the DNA or genetic material controls the biological activities of a temporary nature and inheritance of RNA plays a role in protein synthesis.
RNA is seen as the most primitive genetic material. Millions of years ago, all life functions can be performed by RNA, not DNA. RNA could be responsible for maintaining the genetic code whose role in the synthesis of enzymes for metabolism.
But the concept that RNA is the most primitive may be about to change. John Chaput, a researcher from the University of Arizona, Tempe, reveals that there is a more primitive genetic material, which TNA.
TNA with DNA and RNA differ from their constituent sugar molecules. If the RNA has Ribose sugars and DNA has deoxyribose, then TNA has Thirosa, so called as Therose Nucleic Acid.
TNA is currently not discovered its existence in nature. However, Chaput has been successfully made in the laboratory and bind to proteins. Chaput see that TNA turned into more complex and can function like RNA in binding proteins.
Chaput research about TNA is still early research. Chaput said the current research still faces obstacles because the limitations of technology to allow TNA to evolve in the laboratory.
In view of Chaput, TNA is also not the only one that is more primitive genetic material of DNA and RNA. "The most likely scenario is natural to have a lot," Chaput said as quoted by New Scientist, Sunday (08/01/2012).
But, there are weaknesses in the view of Chaput. First, there is no trace that TNA is "cousin" of DNA and RNA. Second, no scientist who made TNA the same environmental conditions as when there is no life. much research remains to be done. Chaput study published in the journal Nature
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