RNA life
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Yuriy Fazylov
Sep 19, 2014, 4:41:02 AM9/19/14
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Do any of you know if there are organisms that depend more on RNA than DNA?
I know that some portion of viruses do that but do organisms such as prokaryotes?
I have not been able to find anything of sort on my own, which is why I ask.
I know that some portion of viruses do that but do organisms such as prokaryotes?
I have not been able to find anything of sort on my own, which is why I ask.
Cathal Garvey
Sep 19, 2014, 7:36:52 AM9/19/14
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"Not anymore" is the generally accepted answer. Aside from viruses, all
other branches of life have moved to DNA for long-term information
storage, with RNA fulfilling a partial functional role and an
information retrieval role.
Now, you say "depend" more on RNA, which is open to interpretation.
Certainly, some branches of life "use" RNA more than others for their
cellular processes. If you ignore that eukaryotes have generally more
complex cellular systems overall, you can say that eukarya appear to use
RNA for more complex stuff than bacteria. We use microRNA as a staple of
gene regulation, we use foreign RNA recognition as a way to protect
against viruses using RNAi, I've seen suggestions that long noncoding
RNAs might be responsible for organising the relative placement of
chromosomes in the interphase nucleus, helping trans-acting
transcription factors to influence genes on different chromosomes or
distant arms of the same chromosomes.
On the other hand, bacteria have CRISPR/Cas and ribozymes that can
detect metabolite concentrations to regulate translation of mRNAs, so
they do some pretty cool stuff with RNA, too. Just, in my view, not to
the same extent. So the Eukarya, always looking for neat hacks to
improve genetic competitiveness versus those pesky low-generation-time
high-evolution-rate no-karyotes, seem to be more creative with RNA.
--
Twitter: @onetruecathal, @formabiolabs
Phone: +353876363185
Blog: http://indiebiotech.com
miniLock.io: JjmYYngs7akLZUjkvFkuYdsZ3PyPHSZRBKNm6qTYKZfAM
other branches of life have moved to DNA for long-term information
storage, with RNA fulfilling a partial functional role and an
information retrieval role.
Now, you say "depend" more on RNA, which is open to interpretation.
Certainly, some branches of life "use" RNA more than others for their
cellular processes. If you ignore that eukaryotes have generally more
complex cellular systems overall, you can say that eukarya appear to use
RNA for more complex stuff than bacteria. We use microRNA as a staple of
gene regulation, we use foreign RNA recognition as a way to protect
against viruses using RNAi, I've seen suggestions that long noncoding
RNAs might be responsible for organising the relative placement of
chromosomes in the interphase nucleus, helping trans-acting
transcription factors to influence genes on different chromosomes or
distant arms of the same chromosomes.
On the other hand, bacteria have CRISPR/Cas and ribozymes that can
detect metabolite concentrations to regulate translation of mRNAs, so
they do some pretty cool stuff with RNA, too. Just, in my view, not to
the same extent. So the Eukarya, always looking for neat hacks to
improve genetic competitiveness versus those pesky low-generation-time
high-evolution-rate no-karyotes, seem to be more creative with RNA.
Twitter: @onetruecathal, @formabiolabs
Phone: +353876363185
Blog: http://indiebiotech.com
miniLock.io: JjmYYngs7akLZUjkvFkuYdsZ3PyPHSZRBKNm6qTYKZfAM
Yuriy Fazylov
Sep 21, 2014, 8:47:01 PM9/21/14
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I guess virology is a good enough place to start my search. Thanks Cathal.
btw, how do you say your name? [t] silent? I am in disagreement with someone about it.
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Cathal Garvey
Sep 22, 2014, 5:43:15 AM9/22/14
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> btw, how do you say your name? [t] silent? I am in disagreement with
> someone about it.
Yep, hard "c", silent "t", as if "Kahal"! By now I'm used to hearing the
> someone about it.
vocal "th" as in "Catherine", though, so I don't really mind. :)
On 22/09/14 01:47, Yuriy Fazylov wrote:
> I guess virology is a good enough place to start my search. Thanks Cathal.
>
> btw, how do you say your name? [t] silent? I am in disagreement with someone about it.
>
Dakota Hamill
Sep 22, 2014, 9:27:02 AM9/22/14
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I've been wondering that for 5 years. And sometimes I spend a few minutes making up little stories and talking to myself in an Irish accent pronouncing the name in varying ways, wondering which one is correct.
Mystery solved.
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