The RNA World- Part 2

In part 2 of the RNA World topic, we will examine some current research in Biochemistry.

Please read Self-Sustained Replication of an RNA Enzyme by Lincoln and Joyce. This Science article was published in 2009, and uses multidisciplinary techniques to create self-replicating RNA ribozymes.

• Please also review the Supplementary Materials & Methods for a list of methods used, such as PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, Pulse-Chase, and DNA/RNA Synthesis. We will be covering some of these techniques and discussing them in class.

Please familiarize yourself with the abstract and purpose of Lorsch and Szostack's Nature paper In vitro evolution of new ribozymes with polynucleotide kinase activity. We will speak about the SELEX process and the science of artificial evolution in class.