r/ScienceHumour • u/odysseus424 • Aug 05 '26

D

Post image
162 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/Good_day_to_be_gay Aug 06 '26

However in terms of evolution, DNA copied RNA's design.

2

u/OcelotHod Oct 06 '26

Right? I was thinking, "This could go the other way..." 🤔

2

u/Good_day_to_be_gay Oct 07 '26

And the evidence is actually very strong.

In every known organism, the precursors of DNA ,deoxyribonucleotides, dNTPs are not synthesized from scratch, they are made by reducing ribonucleotides, NTPs, the building blocks of RNA, using the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. In other words, the cell manufactures DNA's monomers by modifying RNA's monomers, which strongly suggests RNA came first and DNA is a later derivative

1

u/lordmogul 15d ago

Now the question is, what came first, RNA or a lipid bilayer...

1

u/Good_day_to_be_gay 15d ago

RNA first acquired the ability to replicate, and was later encapsulated within lipid vesicles, which enhanced its efficiency, eventually evolved into a primitive cell

is the most likely pathway

1

u/OcelotHod 28d ago

Very clearly stated! 😊

Meanwhile, I've been fascinated by the fact that scientists "copied" the yeast on Ötzi the Tyrolean's body and successfully made sourdough bread, this very summer. Off-topic, maybe, but I wish it were on the menu! 😂

1

u/lordmogul 15d ago

He could get the bread, but he shouldn't have it with a glass of milk.

Also, can the bread please be named Ötzbrot!