It is unclear how evolution started, but we know it did and since then drove the development of all the lifeforms we find today.
Indeed, this innovative power of evolution has an unmatched potential for problem-solving but is limited by the chemical and physical properties of its molecules.
Nucleic acids are so far the only genetic polymers we know, having the potential to start the process of Darwinian evolution and life still relies on them. Importantly, nucleic acids not only include RNA and DNA, but other unnatural chemically modified polymers exist in the family as well. These nucleic acids, natural as well as unnatural, can unluck the engine room of cells and is used in biotechnology and medicine.
Therefore, evolution of new nucleic acid molecules poses great promise for resolving how life emerge, solving new emerging problem in new ways, and improving biotechnology and medicine.
In the Kristoffersen lab we study nucleic acids potential for starting evolution from scratch.
We do this to:
