Summary
Different functions of ribonucleotides provide additional arguments that RNA preceded DNA. It is proposed that the DNA Empire came into being after photosynthesizing algae provided an oxygen rich environment. Oxygen the “by-product” of photolyis contributed to the RNA ⇒ DNA transition. The reductive power generated by the photolyis produced more carbohydrates than the photosynthesizing algae needed and provided a carbohydrate rich environment for microbial symbiotic communities in the “local primordial soup”. The discovery of the structure of the double stranded DNA led to the recognition of several basic principles of modern biology. Based on these rules the informational processes belonging to the DNA Empire have been compiled into a comprehensive hierarchically arranged system consisting of at least twelve processes known as the transfer of genetic information or genetic communication.
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Bánfalvi, G. (2009). DNA Empire. In: Apoptotic Chromatin Changes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9561-0_1
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