From formamide to RNA: the roles of formamide and water in the evolution of chemical information.
In pursuing the origin of informational polymers, we followed the assumption that their spontaneous formation could only have occurred: (i) if all the components were present at the same site and in the same reaction, and (ii) if the thermodynamics of the processes involved favored a polymerized over a monomeric state of the precursors. A plausible scenario satisfying both assumptions is provided.
Saladino
Raffaele
R
Dipartimento A.B.A.C., Università della Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy. saladino@unitus.it
Crestini
Claudia
C
Ciciriello
Fabiana
F
Pino
Samanta
S
Costanzo
Giovanna
G
Di Mauro
Ernesto
E
D002384:Catalysis; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D005559:Formamides; D000069497:Origin of Life; D012313:RNA; D014867:Water
D005559:Formamides; D014867:Water; C031066:formamide; D012313:RNA