What came first: DNA or proteins?

Question

If DNA is required for protein synthesis and proteins (polymerase enzymes) are required for DNA synthesis, which came first?

This one's for the eggheads!

Answer 1

my best guess would be proteins, because we can assume that there was a RNA-world before DNA became the main information encoder. The DNA thus evolved from this RNA world. The RNA suffices to the translation into protein. In fact, DNA is first transcribed into mRNA and then translated into a protein-sequence. So a world only based on RNA and proteins is conceivable and very likely to have existed.

Answer 2

Yes, a DNA strand is a protein molecule.

Amino acids in particular combinations (Acetoline, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine are the four involved in human DNA), bound together by enzymes, comprise that protein.

DNA molecules, as molecules go, are IMMENSE.

Even protein molecules are very, very large.

Protein molecules ARE MADE OF amino acids.

So, before there can be polymerase enzymes (AGCT, in humans -- that's for DNA -- RNA is AUCT), there must be amino acids. Those came first.

Even bacteria and viri have DNA or RNA. We know there are life-forms smaller, and less complex than bacteria and viri, which have DNA, after a fashion.

If memory serves, which it usually does, amino acids (also relatively large molecules) started forming in the 'primordial soup' of Earth, back when it cooled off enough to have some water, but long before the 'oxygen reducing' atmosphere we have now.

As for what it takes, to build an amino acid... there my knowledge runs out completely. But, I'm going to have to look now, because I am curious. If anyone finds any really good links that have NOTHING to do with Creationism (puke!) but either support or refute anything I have said here, or talk about the formation of amino acids, please email me.

Answer 3

Proteins came first because there are other ways to make proteins and DNA synthesis only applies to living materials.

Answer 4

Proteins came first (well, Amino Acids). Basic DNA/RNA was formed in a primordial soup of A.A.s. DNA is not always required for A.A. synthesis and cannot make certain kinds of A.A.s naturally.

Answer 5

A pair of really hot DNA had sex together and gave birth to proteins. The proteins then had sex with each other and produced DNA. After that, the DNA and the protein as well as the person stupid enough to watch them all having sex, got Alzheimer's. So, now, nobody has a clue what really happened -- except me, because I got to be best buddies,for a milli-second, with a molecule from Einstein's brain, while it was floating through a haze of crack that someone was smoking.

Answer 6

There is no definitie answer because no one knows for sure. It's the same as asking which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Like you said proteins are required for DNA synthesis, and DNA is required to make proteins!

Answer 7

I'm going to guess that proteins came first...proteins make-up DNA. It's similar to what your table is made of...molecules = thats my analogy.

Answer 8

In terms of history, the first forms of life on earth were amino acids which formed protiens. Ther-fore, it must be protiens

Answer 9

Protiens, as DNA is not the only method to synthesise protiens...

Answer 10

DNA, because if DNA wasn't present, protein codes would never be made. even a unicellular organism has a DNA to make preotein which helps it to reproduce.