Crucial steps to life: From chemical reactions to code using agents

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe concepts of the origin of the genetic code and the definitions of life changed dramatically after the RNA world hypothesis. Main narratives in molecular biology and genetics such as the "central dogma," "one gene one protein" and "non-coding DNA is junk" were falsified meanwhile. RNA moved from the transition intermediate molecule into centre stage. Additionally the abundance of empirical data concerning nonrandom genetic change operators such as the variety of mobile genetic elements, persistent viruses and defectives do not fit with the dominant narrative of error replication events (mutations) as being the main driving forces creating genetic novelty and diversity. The reductionistic and mechanistic views on physico-chemical properties of the genetic code are no longer convincing as appropriate descriptions of the abundance of non-random genetic content operators which are active in natural genetic engineering and natural genome editing.

Key Levels of Biocommunication

“…and not mere physical-chemical reaction patterns we must look at the group building of RNA stem-loop structures (Flores et al, 2012;Witzany, 2016).…”

That is life: communicating RNA networks from viruses and cells in continuous interaction

“…But this social–chemical binding can add a completely new and crucial communication feature to the population of chemical molecules: a semiotic interaction has started that is absent from all other known molecular structures. A semiotically determined code means that besides the physicochemical boundaries, a sign‐based interaction (semiosis) now takes place with at least the predominant interaction motifs (such as RNA group identity) . Natural semiotic codes normally start out of social interactions, which requires agents and out of which emerge the complementary functions of combinatorial rules (syntax), contextual rules (pragmatics), and content‐relevant rules (semantics).…”

What can we learn from the construction of in vitro replication systems?

“…One way by which these limitations can be overcome is by the translation of the RNA sequence to another molecule, such as a protein. In the evolutionary history of life, the acquisition of translation capabilities is considered to be one of the major transitions …”