Evolutionist So which came first: proteins or DNA/RNA?

Answer 1

I hope atheists can answer this.

As if they can.

Answer 2

Well, considering the fact that there was no such thing as DNA OR proteins for billions of years after the earth was formed, it hardly matters whether nucleotides or amino acids developed first. However, it is most likely that simple protein molecules developed long before DNA did. DNA after all simply directs the formation of specific amino acid sequences. The lack of DNA doesn't stop such sequences from forming randomly.

Answer 3

From Wikipedia:
There is no truly "standard model" of the origin of life. But most currently accepted models build in one way or another upon a number of discoveries about the origin of molecular and cellular components for life, which are listed in a rough order of postulated emergence:

1. Plausible pre-biotic conditions result in the creation of certain basic small molecules (monomers) of life, such as amino acids. This was demonstrated in the Miller-Urey experiment by Stanley L. Miller and Harold C. Urey in 1953.
2. Phospholipids (of an appropriate length) can spontaneously form lipid bilayers, a basic component of the cell membrane.
3. The polymerization of nucleotides into random RNA molecules might have resulted in self-replicating ribozymes (RNA world hypothesis).
4. Selection pressures for catalytic efficiency and diversity result in ribozymes which catalyse peptidyl transfer (hence formation of small proteins), since oligopeptides complex with RNA to form better catalysts. Thus the first ribosome is born, and protein synthesis becomes more prevalent.
5. Proteins outcompete ribozymes in catalytic ability, and therefore become the dominant biopolymer. Nucleic acids are restricted to predominantly genomic use.

So, in short, we don't know yet, but there are is some interesting evidence being found. We'll see which theory becomes dominant. The problem is that the initial carbon chains that tipped of the evolutionary process don't leave fossils. Therefore, it is much more difficult to determine with of many possible paths it took.

Answer 4

Based on laboratory research it is believed that simple proteins with the ability to store information, formed first from natural chemical reactions. Simple shards of phenotypic RNA came next. DNA did not evolve until some time later; it could have taken as much as several millions of years.

Answer 5

Proteins - RNA then DNA I believe. I'm a chemist, not a Biologist.

Added: Yep here is an article in Nature about the proteins that are present on Mars: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v424/n6949/full/424624a.html

Answer 6

You realize that we are finding natural forming amino acids and RNA like structures? Also, we may hypothesize about the early stages of "life" but until evidence is found those will remain hypothesis, which is the opposite of religion which says "no evidence therefore god must be true."

Answer 7

It was obviously the proteins. Without the amino acid building blocks DNA cannot form.

Answer 8

Proteins, then RNA, then DNA.

Answer 9

Proteins --> RNA --> DNA

You should pay more attention in biology-class..

Answer 10

Hmmm... That's so tough. I didn't know the old Chickens-and-eggs question would evolve to THIS!! HAHAHAHA!

Proteins. Without the proteins DNA/RNA won't form. Wait, DNA/RNA first, without them humans won't even exist.

Oh darn. Argh. God created us, so they both come together. Lol.

Answer 11

proteins formed first, then combined in various ways to produce DNA/RNA