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A Comparison Among the Models Proposed to Explain the Origin of the tRNA Molecule: A Synthesis

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Abstract

A comparison is made among all the models proposed to explain the origin of the tRNA molecule. The conclusion reached is that, for the model predicting that the tRNA molecule originated after the assembly of two hairpin-like structures, molecular fossils have been found in the half-genes of the tRNAs of Nanoarchaeum equitans. These might be the witnesses of the transition stage predicted by the model through which the evolution of the tRNA molecule passed, thus providing considerable corroboration for this model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Molecular Evolution, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, ‘Adriano Buzzati Travers,’ CNR, Via P. Castellino, 111, 80131, Naples, Napoli, Italy

    Massimo Di Giulio

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  1. Massimo Di Giulio
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Correspondence to Massimo Di Giulio.

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Di Giulio, M. A Comparison Among the Models Proposed to Explain the Origin of the tRNA Molecule: A Synthesis. J Mol Evol 69, 1–9 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-009-9248-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-009-9248-z

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