Researched
Catalytic RNA and the RNA world
In 1982-83 Cech and Altman found that RNA can act as an enzyme, not only carry genetic information; they shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Open in the interactive tree →Cech showed that an RNA segment of the ciliate Tetrahymena cuts itself out of its own transcript; Altman showed that the RNA part of RNase P does the cutting. In 1986 Walter Gilbert coined 'RNA world' for early life in which RNA both stored information and catalysed reactions.
Prerequisites
Unlocks
- RNA interference1998RNAi extends the finding that RNA is an active molecule, not just a message
- Origin of lifeopenThe RNA world idea rests on RNA that can both store information and catalyse