Biological complexity: speed of cellular production (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Thursday, July 13, 2017, 06:26 (2691 days ago) @ David Turell

RNA molecules control protein production and last only two minutes!

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-rna-molecules-short.html

"RNA molecules are individual transcripts of the cell's DNA. They transfer the genetic information of the DNA and provide a template for the production of proteins that regulate all the cell's processes. The small carriers of information are themselves regulated throughout their lifespan, or rather half-life. After being produced, RNA molecules serve as a template for protein production for a limited time, before they are degraded.

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"The experiments were repeated for some 50 different genes and showed that 80 percent of all RNAs undergo a rapid turnover, living less than 2 minutes and can be classified as short-lived. Only about 20 percent live longer, for about 5 to 10 minutes. "These results are astounding, if you consider that until now it was assumed that on average RNAs survived 20 minutes in the cell", says Becskei."

Comment: this shows the speed of protein production in cells. It shows that life is more amazing than previously thought.

It also throws a monkey wrench into the idea that RNA was the initial building block for early life by dramatically compressing the time frame for 'evolution' to occur.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.