The circles of life – exploring RNA-catalyzed rolling circle self-replication

The process by which life emerges from chemical building blocks is a heavily researched yet unresolved area. A key requirement for the origin of life is sustainable self-replication. In modern life, the self-replication process is complex, involving DNA, RNA, and proteins, suggesting it did not emerge in this form. Inspired by the simplest natural replication, we will explore the potential of RNA to catalyze sustainable self-replication by itself. The grant will fund a PhD student and a postdoc.