Major Breakthrough in Evolutionary Biology Reveals Path from Simple to Complex Cells
A new study has unveiled insights into how simple cells evolved into complex life forms over two billion years ago. Conducted by researchers from Spain and published in the journal PNAS, the research attributes this evolutionary leap to the limitations in protein size, which forced an essential shift in genetic regulation, as explained by co-author Jordi Bascompte of the University of Zurich.
Historically, the transition from prokaryotic cells (simple bacteria) to eukaryotic cells (more complex organisms) has puzzled scientists. Bascompte cites British biochemist Nick Lane's assertion regarding the lack of known intermediaries between these cellular forms. The research posits that as proteins could no longer elongate effectively, cells began utilizing non-coding parts of DNA, such as introns, leading to new genetic regulatory strategies.
Biotechnologist César de la Fuente from the University of Pennsylvania praised the study's interdisciplinary approach, noting its potential to explain the complexity of multicellular organisms. The collaborative effort from various scientific disciplines reflects a quest for answers that has spanned three decades, illustrating the intricate relationship between biology and computational algorithms.
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