Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigation.

Outline

I.    Dean Kenyon theorizes about the origin of protein molecules

II.   The role of DNA in the origin of life

III.  Processing the genetic code

   A.  General steps and components necessary for the synthesis of a protein molecule -

• DNA molecule
• Transcription
• Messenger RNA
• Nuclear Pore Complex
• Ribosome
• Translation
• Assembly of amino acids into a protein chain
• Folding the chain into the correct shape
• Transporting the protein to where it is needed within the cell

Key Points

How could the first proteins have been assembled without the help of genetic instructions?

Amino acids do not have the ability to order themselves into any biologically meaningful sequence.

Natural selection could not have functioned before the existence of the first living cell.

Natural selection can only act upon organisms capable of replicating themselves. This requires cells equipped with DNA that pass on their genetic information to future generations.

Key Words

• Transcription
• A  Adenine
• Messenger RNA
• C  Cytosine
• Nuclear Pore Complex
• T  Thymine
• RibosomeG  Guanine
• Translation
• DNA
• Chemical Evolution