Emergence and diversification of a host-parasite RNA ecosystem through Darwinian evolution.

ABSTRACT: In prebiotic evolution, molecular self-replicators are considered to develop into diverse, complex living organisms. The appearance of parasitic replicators is believed inevitable in this process. However, the role of parasitic replicators in prebiotic evolution remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated experimental coevolution of RNA self-replicators (host RNAs) and emerging parasitic replicators (parasitic RNAs) using an RNA-protein replication system we developed. During a long-term replication experiment, a clonal population of the host RNA turned into an evolving host-parasite ecosystem through the continuous emergence of new types of host and parasitic RNAs produced by replication errors. The host and parasitic RNAs diversified into at least two and three different lineages, respectivel

SUBMITTER: Furubayashi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7378860 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature