Mineral Catalysis and Prebiotic Synthesis: Montmorillonite-Catalyzed Formation of RNA

Research Article| June 01, 2005 Mineral Catalysis and Prebiotic Synthesis: Montmorillonite-Catalyzed Formation of RNA James P. Ferris James P. Ferris 1New York Center for Studies on the Origins of Life and Department of Chemistry Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA E-mail: ferrij@rpi.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information James P. Ferris 1New York Center for Studies on the Origins of Life and Department of Chemistry Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA E-mail: ferrij@rpi.edu Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1811-5217 Print ISSN: 1811-5209 © 2005 by the Mineralogical Society of America Elements (2005) 1 (3): 145–149. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.1.3.145 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation James P. Ferris; Mineral Catalysis and Prebiotic Synthesis: Montmorillonite-Catalyzed Formation of RNA. Elements 2005;; 1 (3): 145–149. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.1.3.145 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract Montmorillonite, a clay mineral formed by the weathering of volcanic ash, may have played a central role in the evolution of life. Because of its structure, montmorillonite tends to adsorb organic compounds and this contributes to its ability to catalyze a variety of organic reactions critical to scenarios of life's origins. We have shown experimentally that RNA molecules bind efficiently to clays and that montmorillonite can catalyze the formation of longer molecules (oligomers), thus lending support to the RNA world hypothesis. This theory proposes that life based on RNA preceded current life, which is based on DNA and protein. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.