Entering the RNA World with Sidney Altman

Nobel Laureate Sidney Altman, Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University, gives a general description of the problem of the origin of life on Earth with some detail about what we know now and our knowledge of RNase P, an enzyme with a catalytic RNA subunit. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Council Lectures" [12/2010] [Science] [Show ID: 20223]

[@RileyRampant]

I love Dr. Altman's no-nonsense delivery. A true pioneer in molecular biology, a great model for young scientists.

[@Flem1337]

Very nice lecture!

[@ashwadhwani]

I watch these slow speakers at 1.25 or 1.5 speed. Some vids seem to be purposely slowed down a bit to increase length or eat up your time. Evolve to faster speed and save time, friends

[@SimKoning]

Regarding sugars, there may be some geological structures that naturally organize non-racemic mixtures. Regardless, it's extremely premature to be jumping to the conclusion that abiogenesis is completely impossible. We didn't think Jovian planets could form close to their stars, but then we discovered them as the first detected extrasolar planets...

[@ThekiBoran]

How did the first RNA molecule create the very first protein without the necessary proteins for sequencing amino acids?

[@SimKoning]

I understand both those subjects quite well. How old do you think the Earth is?

[@MrKmanthie]

actual talk begins at 4:53...

[@SimKoning]

Sorry, I should have been more specific: there are clays such as montmorillonite that polymerize dextro nucleotides into RNA. RNA can act as both an informational molecule and an enzyme (hence ribozyme) that can replicate and mutate while competing with other replicating RNA. There are over a 100,000 types of ribozymes that have been discovered, all of which have been *evolved* in the lab.

[@SimKoning]

The synthesis of protocells has been demonstrated to be trivially easy in prebiotic conditions. Lipid vesicles can isolate RNA molecules from the surrounding environment, so now the research is focusing transitioning from simple RNA replicators, to the first autonomous protocell. Of course, if scientists made a habit of just throwing their hands up while yelling 'God dun it', you wouldn't have a computer right now.

[@SimKoning]

Also, do you have any examples of peer reviewed papers published in real science journals? Or do you just read **books** produced by the Discovery institute?

[@michalchik]

@sbergman27 Thank YOU!

[@Roedygr]

Altman said the age of the universe was 11 billion years. I understand it to be 13.82 billion years. How old is this video?

[@carryall69]

minus the age of protolife on earth

[@sarenace]

They seem to self assemble just fine in a tRNA molecule; they also seem to self assemble just fine in ribosomal RNA, and in small nuclear RNA. Maybe you should clarify your point?

[@Aluminata]

Today we know the Universe to be 13.7 billion years old - it was 11 billion years old when this doc was made.

[@dr.ahmedjebara3400]

Ralph Latham this is old lecture it's about 2.7 billions year ago.

[@XianOrtiz7]

just curious if anyone has input. what's with the first two questioners and their attitude? first dude said, i'd prefer a response that is more than a grunt. second lady said his remarks about astrophysics were "disparaging"....i'm genuinely confused and curious if anyone else caught that

[@SimKoning]

How old do you thin the Earth is?

[@SimKoning]

RNA molecules 40-mers in length have been produced using montmorillonite as a template, this was done in deliberately simulated prebiotic conditions (Huang and Ferris 2003; Prabahar and Ferris 1997) A nucleotide chain of 40-mers is sufficient for replication and information storage. Protocell lipid bilayer vesicles are able to form spontaneously in realistic prebiotic conditions. In 2009, simple RNA chains were demonstrated to replicate, mutate and evolve at a rate of 1 rep per hr. look it up..

[@SimKoning]

We don't know that. Amino acids found within asteroids/comets often have a predominately left handed chirality. Many of the amino acids found on the prebiotic Earth may have been produced within the accretion disc of the early solar system, and this may have impacted their chirality. There may have also been environmental conditions, such as mineral formations that had an effect on this as well. It's a bit of a leap to go from, "we don't know for sure" to "IT'S IMPOSSIBE!!!"

[@SimKoning]

How old do you think Earth is?

[@Roedygr]

IIRC lead in gasoline retards combustion, much as adding the heavier octane does.

[@SimKoning]

The point is there are some things you can't perfectly replicate in a LAB genius. You can't perfectly replicate the erosion of the grand canyon in a building, but you can replicate the underlying principles. How old do you think the Earth is?

[@SimKoning]

I'll wait for an answer I guess...

[@danielfahrenheit4139]

just remember these stupid molecules are stepping back trying to figure all of this out. I never really looked at it fro a chemical evolution point of view. Its crazy!

[@SimKoning]

I'm sorry maybe I should type like you!!!!!!!!!! Is this better??????????? Does this help get the point accross?!??!?!?!?!?! Or does it give the impression that I'm a 12 years old?!?!

[@IMortage]

First, why do you start insulting me? Second, I wasn't talking about disproving God. I was talking about (dis-)proving the RNA hypothesis. If you think that is an unstudyable topic, what - according to you - would be a topic for scientific inquiry? I am not an atheist, I am agonistic. Whether unguided natural chemistry can lead to a self-sustainable RNA world hasn't been established, why do you think you know it to be impossible?

[@SimKoning]

Scientists have created an entire ribosome from scratch, molecule by molecule... and you're calling me a moron.

[@IMortage]

I'll repeat my question: How did you come to that conclusion? If you make such a claim, provide some evidence. Current research in that area is ongoing. So far, there is no proof for abiogenisis. But there are strong hints that it could be possible. I haven't heard of anybody in the field claiming that they can rule out abiogenisis. So if you have such stunning results, I look forward to your paper on the topic.

[@SimKoning]

"Wrong again! 4 billion years Is an assumption!" < This makes it obvious that you don't even have a proper education. Where are you getting your information... I'm almost afraid to ask.

[@IMortage]

Sigh. How did you come to that conclusion? (For if you could prove it, a nobel prize would await you.)

[@MrKmanthie]

IMortgage why don't you shut the fuck up & piss off?

[@SimKoning]

Sorry, * exclamation* points

[@SimKoning]

You also seem to be thinking of bacteria. Bacteria was almost certainly NOT the first form of life. The first lifeforms were probably protocells that consisted of only randomly combined RNA and phospholipids bilayer vesicles. Protocell membranes form spontaneously and are very stable. You might want to actually learn something about abiogenesis rather than getting your info from a creationist website. That's assuming you actually care about the truth.

[@JesseSierke]

I can't believe the degree of trolling this video has attracted. Don't you have anything better to do? Even if you don't agree with all of the lecturer's points, try couching your disagreements in cogent, fact-based rebuttals rather than in cheap pot-shots.

[@SimKoning]

Wow, impressive... where is the evidence for the supernatural? And, you probably won't have to wait for too long. They are already working on protocell biochemistry. Of course, if you actually kept up on real science research... How old do you think the Earth is?

[@danielfahrenheit4139]

don't replicate crazy people being aware of this stuff either

[@SimKoning]

So why do you believe in God?

[@SimKoning]

and this ?????????????

[@Mystery207]

University eugenicist.

[@SimKoning]

You do understand that if abiogenesis proved to be false, that it's not evidence for your particular God right? There is a reason I suggested you learn what an argument from ignorance is.

[@SimKoning]

Why do you believe in God? How old do you think the Earth is? I honestly want to know, since you are just ignoring everything I've cited and have resorted to making nothing but arguments from ignorance and incredulity.

[@SimKoning]

Why do you believe in God?

[@SimKoning]

You might also want to Google, "argument from ignorance fallacy".

[@SimKoning]

Because modern bacteria would never allow them to form, and the atmosphere is filled with oxygen. I can't believe I actually had to answer that question. Again, are you a young earth creationist? Do you believe all species were magically created by God? Why won't you answer such as simple question?

[@SimKoning]

Stop and ask yourself this. What's more plausible, life, which is ultimately reducible to chemistry, and evolves over time, evolved from ever simpler chemistry, or creation via pure magic? That is ultimately what you are positing... magic.. what's worse is that it's painfully obvious that you are getting your information from creationist sources, which have been shown time and time again to be dishonest, even in a court of law.

[@SimKoning]

Again, proteins came later, long after the first protocells... the first forms of life were likely simple protocells with a few molecular components; namely phosholipids and RNA replicase. it's rather obvious that you have no idea what you are talking about.

[@SimKoning]

And before I forget to ask again, where is the evidence for your God?

[@SimKoning]

You realize this^ illustrates your hypocrisy right? Or do you actually have evidence for supernatural magic?

[@SimKoning]

In short, put the Bible and creationist videos down, and go seek the truth, rather than clinging to a myth due to social pressure, fear, or tradition and go think for yourself.