These structures are involved in the regulation of gene expression, where the double-stranded regions typically carry specific functions and, if lost, may cause severe disorders. A double-stranded ...

Even those who doubt the RNA World hypothesis may be hard-pressed to argue against it. Consider the predicament faced by a team of scientists at Scripps Research. They suspected that RNA was a poor ...

Francesca has an MSci in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham.View full profile Francesca has an MSci in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham. For a long time, the “RNA World” ...

The origins of life remain a major mystery. How were complex molecules able to form and remain intact for prolonged periods without disintegrating? A team has demonstrated a mechanism that could have ...

Having an intricate understanding of gene regulation is the underlying key of molecular and cell biology. For many years we have been taught that DNA is double-stranded and RNA is single-stranded, but ...

Nucleic acids are complex biological molecules that store and transmit genetic information in all living organisms. They are essential for the survival and reproduction of life on Earth. The two main ...