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Scientists Create RNA From Primordial Soup

Kristina at Science News writes "The RNA world hypothesis proposed 40 years ago suggested that life on Earth started not with DNA but with RNA. Now a team of scientists bolsters this hypothesis, having assembled RNA in the lab from a mixture that resembles what was likely the primordial soup. 'Until now,' Science News reports, 'scientists couldn't figure out the chemical reactions that created the earliest RNA molecules.' The new work started the RNA assembly chemistry from a different angle than what earlier work had tried."

25 of 369 comments (clear)

  1. I thought... by vrmlguy · · Score: 1, Funny

    I thought that the headline was "Scientists Create RNA From Primordial Soap", which would have been interesting in a completely different way.

    --
    Nothing for 6-digit uids?
    1. Re:I thought... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Creating life from Alphabet Soup would have been even more interesting.

    2. Re:I thought... by something_wicked_thi · · Score: 2, Funny

      GAA TAC ATC GCA CAT TAG TAT ATT GAG ACT

      (Yes, I know that's DNA and not RNA, but it's really hard to make words with a U and no T).

    3. Re:I thought... by master5o1 · · Score: 2, Funny

      At least with RNA you can make that annoying thing on Vista... UAC.

      --
      signature is pants
    4. Re:I thought... by Cassius+Corodes · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes I see how the notion of putting together what happened in the past from present evidence can be difficult to understand. I suggest you steer clear of forensics, it could blow your mind...

      --
      Control is an illusion, order our comforting lie. From chaos, through chaos, into chaos we fly
    5. Re:I thought... by emlyncorrin · · Score: 2, Funny

      The t-RNA has UAC which corresponds to it.

      "You are about to transcribe a gene."
      [Continue] [Cancel]

  2. Clearly... by MachDelta · · Score: 3, Funny

    A wizard did it.

  3. Deja vu by SnarfQuest · · Score: 3, Funny

    a mixture that resembles what was likely the primordial soup.

    Deja vu: I just had primordial soup for lunch.

    --
    Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
    1. Re:Deja vu by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Funny

      Deja vu: I just had primordial soup for lunch.

      Great, just great. Do you know how many potential species you just wiped out? The right to lifers are going to have you up against the wall in a nanosecond.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Deja vu by John+Hasler · · Score: 3, Funny

      > I just had primordial soup for lunch.

      Isn't that what was in that fridge in San Jose?

      --
      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
  4. Witchdoctor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    In other news :
    Witchdoctor creates soup from scientists who were studying primordials .

  5. Re:Ignoratio Elenchi by digitalunity · · Score: 5, Funny

    God crushing you nonbelievers with rain of sulfur and fire would settle the matter nicely.

    I'm not holding my breath though.

    --
    You can't legislate goodness. Let each to his own destiny, by will of his freely made choices.
  6. Re:Ignoratio Elenchi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes. Why are you not holding your breath?

    Exactly. No god.

  7. Re:One word.... by pugdk · · Score: 2, Funny

    I earn a living (well, if you can call it that) doing biochemical research, but frankly I don't care if you believe me (RTFA, it pretty much speaks for itself).

    Sorry, not bored enough to give examples, but using google scholar will most definitely help you (if you are that bored ;-).

    Possible vector of contamination? Are you serious? Try just about everything they may have come into contact with.... removal of "all things resembling RNA" is much easier than it sounds... destruction of RNA strands, yes... quite easy (however that may introduce yet more contamination ;-). Removal of all nucleotides... good luck.

    Contamination is actally quite a good shot as to what may have brought on at least the start of the process...

    Did I mention I'm not that worried if you don't believe me? :-)

  8. Godless Science loses *another* battle! by Dystopian+Rebel · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Sutherland says [...] 'The key turned out to be the order that the ingredients are added and the way you put them together -- like making a soufflé.'"

    How much clearer does it need to be made to you amoral materialists that cooking dinner needs *a Chef*?

    The only thing I regret is that Sutherland compared God's Work to making a "soufflé". Couldn't he have used a good Christian American recipe?

    Like omelette!

    --
    Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
    1. Re:Godless Science loses *another* battle! by onkelonkel · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Those Frenchmen don't even have a word for entrepreneur"

      --
      None of them can see the clouds; The polished wings don't care.
  9. Re:Ignoratio Elenchi by Polumna · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come on, man, this is slashdot. You could have made your whole point with just the words: "Star Trek V" ;D

  10. Re:That's Nothing! by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 2, Funny

    Would that be "cream of memory leek", "cream of resource leek", or "cream of taking a leek" soup?

    --
    Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  11. You forgot... by tool462 · · Score: 5, Funny

    d) God is actually a woman. Powerful, but insecure, and she needs you to show her how much you love her all the time. If you don't, she'll get depressed and eat her weight in mint-chocolate chip ice cream, in which case she'll end up omnipresent in more ways than one.

  12. He didn't forget by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

    'Likes to play mind games' was option c)

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  13. Re:Ignoratio Elenchi by AmberBlackCat · · Score: 3, Funny

    A false... trilemma...

  14. Re:Ignoratio Elenchi by cmarkn · · Score: 2, Funny

    I am not an ID proponent. I am just a logician.

    But then you repeat yourself.

    --
    People should not fear their government. Governments should fear their people.
  15. Re:Ignoratio Elenchi by ozbird · · Score: 2, Funny

    God crushing you nonbelievers with rain of sulfur and fire would settle the matter nicely.

    I'm not holding my breath though.

    I would - burning sulphur is not good for your lungs.

  16. Re:I thought... *WHACK* by Wicked+Zen · · Score: 2, Funny

    No primordial soup for you!

  17. Ladies and Gentlemen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We have just proven that God exists, and She's a Woman. As evidence, I present The World Around You. Look at it. Think about it. C'mon.

    Dinosaur bones. Buried in the ground. Makes it look like She isn't there. So we say, 'Okay, I get it. You aren't there,' and She gets all pouty and says, "What about all that majestic crap that some dude told you I did but you never saw me do? THEY WROTE BOOKS ABOUT IT!"

    YOU don't have any books written about you, I'd know it if you did, I'M OMNISCIENT! Your greatest achievement is a fricken +5 on some blog no one important even reads."

    What about that, huh, Mr. About-to-get-his-ass-thrown-in-a-lake-of-fire? Did you stop to consider ANY of that shit when you saw those dinosaur bones WELL DID YOU?"

    Why won't you talk to me? Don't you know I love you? C'mere, let's snuggle forever. Just say you were sorry. Just admit you were wrong, and we'll snuggle wuggle forever and I'll make you so happy! My love is the best thing you've ever had."

    WHY WON'T YOU ANSWER ME? IT'S LIKE YOU AREN'T EVEN LISTENING! FUCK YOU! I DON'T LOVE YOU AND I NEVER DID! DIE IN A FIRE!"

    A Woman. No doubt in my mind now. My humblest apologies if any of this offends you, my Lady.

    i only meant it as a joke...