ribozymecentric

Ribozymecentric refers to a conceptual framework or research approach that places ribozymes at the center of biological and prebiotic evolution. This perspective emphasizes the crucial role that RNA, capable of both storing genetic information and catalyzing biochemical reactions, might have played in the early origins of life.

Proponents of the ribozymecentric view suggest that RNA molecules, acting as ribozymes, could have self-replicated and performed other essential metabolic functions before the advent of proteins and DNA. This contrasts with the "gene-centric" view, which prioritizes nucleic acids as information carriers, and the "protein-centric" view, which highlights the catalytic efficiency of proteins.

The ribozymecentric model posits a "RNA world" where RNA molecules were the primary actors in early biochemical systems. These ribozymes would have been responsible for tasks such as amino acid activation, peptide bond formation, and even RNA replication. The discovery of naturally occurring ribozymes and the experimental synthesis of novel ones have provided significant support for this hypothesis.

Research within the ribozymecentric paradigm often focuses on understanding the catalytic repertoire of ribozymes, their potential for self-replication, and how they might have interacted with other primitive molecules to form more complex systems. The ultimate goal is to elucidate a plausible pathway for abiogenesis where RNA served as the foundational molecule for life.