Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Walstrom, Katherine

Keywords

RNA, RNA World Hypothesis, Evolution of Life, Prebiotic Earth

Area of Concentration

Biochemistry

Abstract

The RNA world hypothesis proposes RNA dominated the early biochemical landscape of Earth and functioned both as an information storage molecule and in catalysis, as the predecessor of DNA and protein respectively. If the RNA world existed, RNA must have been able to persist in the harsh conditions of prebiotic Earth. To clarify the conditions under which the RNA world hypothesis is feasible, this study determined the rate and activation energy of the degradation of rRNA extracted from Methanosarcina acetivorans in a number of prebiotically relevant solutions. Compared to pure water at neutral pH, high concentrations of magnesium chloride and sodium bicarbonate were found to severely weaken the integrity of RNA, thus expediting the rate of degradation. Conversely, sodium chloride , sodium oxalate, and sodium borate provided some stabilization. The rates of these reactions were greatly influenced by temperature and identity of ions in solution, and suggest the stability of RNA in prebiotic Earth would have been dependant on the temperature and ionic strength of the solution.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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