Speaker
Description
It is widely accepted that nucleic acids were crucial for the emergence of primitive life on Earth 3.5 – 4 billion years ago. However, geochemical conditions on early Earth must have differed greatly from the constant internal milieus of today's cells where modern biocatalysis takes place. Our research focuses on the activity of catalytic RNA polymers (ribozymes) under extreme and/or unusual conditions that may relate to prebiotic environments. In particular, we are interested in how environmental effects on early Earth might have driven crucial processes such as self-replication or the formation and proliferation of early protocells. As part of the Origins cluster, we are also interested if putative conditions on exoplanets in the habitable zone are compatible with nucleic acid-based biocatalysis.
| Abstract type | RU or CN Highlight Talk (please discuss with Coordinators before) |
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