"http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/science/14rna.html"
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Chemist Shows How RNA Can Be the Starting Point for Life
Recently, an english chemist has found, "The hidden gateway to the RNA world," the chemical milieu which life forms were thought to have emerged from earth, billions of years ago. For twenty years, this question of the origin of life has puzzled, even thwarted both scientists and researchers. It is only now that we know how the building blocks of life, as known as RNA, spontaneously assembled themselves in the conditions of the primitive earth. If correct, these finds could solve countless other mysteries about the origin of life. The english chemist, John D. Sutherland, makes an analogy comparing RNA and evolution. He says that his research is like doing a crossword puzzle, and that it gets easier and easier as he finds more clues. Many call him a pioneer of perbiotic chemistry. He also goes on to say that the spontaneous appearance of some nucleotides on the primitive earth had created life, and that it was, "a near miracle."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
1- good length summary
2 - interesting topic
3 - good quality facts
1- could explain a little bit more of the function of RNA
2- a little vague in some sections
1- I leanred that RNA was like the building blocks of life
1- readable
2 - interesting
3 - cool facts
1- could possible to deeper into how RNA works
2- could explain the background of the chemist better
1- I leanred what RNA was
3 Things done Well:1. Article concisely summarized a complicated subject.
2. Inclusion of the scientist's metaphor was helpful.
3. Summary was written on a subject of great interest: the origins of life.
2 Things needing Improvment1. The summary was somewhat choppy in language.
2. The summary didn't quite explain what Dr. Sutherland's discovery was or why it was important.
1 New Thing Learned1. That it was the spontaneous coalescing to form RNA that defined the beginnnigs of life.
1. Interesting how much we know about such a microscopic yet vital part of our bodies.
2. Interesting topic- origin of life
3. Good example of how far we’ve come in scientific discovery.
1. Could have explained how these discoveries are possible.
2. Could have explained what RNA does
1. I learned how vital this information is to allowing us to discover the origin of life.
Post a Comment