One more step towards the origin of life.

[Justo Miranda]

A research team consisting of Matthew Powner and Jyoti Singh have managed to establish a relationship between RNA and protein synthesis.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/aug/new-step-towards-solving-how-proteins-formed-lifes-origin

https://chemrxiv.org/engage/chemrxiv/article-details/66bddb21f3f4b05290f1dc7e

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09388-y

 

[martinbayer]

If a single cell loves itself very much... (I know, not *EXACTLY* the very origin, but hey...)

 

[publiusr]

I have leaned towards a mechanistic viewpoint---biology can take you only so far back--chemistry only so far forward.

In between? Vortices spinning off smokers--and micelles
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01808123
A micelle is a "spherical cluster of amphiphilic molecules (like soap) that self-assemble in a liquid, forming a colloidal suspension."

I think cells came before DNA.

It doesn't take much energy for life to repair itself
https://phys.org/news/2025-08-cells-remodel-membranes-energy.html
"Their study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how the protein actively reshapes cell membranes—without requiring any external energy. The findings shed light on a fundamental biological repair process."

 

[Apophenia]

Since the Jyoti Singh et al paper came out of University College London, I'm a bit surprised that their Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment wasn't involved. Personally, I like UCL biochemist Nick Lane's emphasis on proton gradients - ie: no energy source, no life. Also keen on Lane's notion of pores formed within carbonate rocks around alkaline hydrothermal vents being able to provide an external 'structure' before self-supporting cell walls evolved.