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There's strong evidence that all life on this planet can trace back to a single strand of DNA, which evolved exactly once in our billions of years. For example
by NickSharp 6y ago
There's strong evidence that all life on this planet can trace back to a single strand of DNA, which evolved exactly once in our billions of years.
For example, if I understand this correctly, a random jumble of DNA as you describe would have a 50/50 chance of twisting to the right or twisting to the left. And yet all life on earth uses DNA that is "right handed" twisting to the right.
- WClayFerguson 6y agoThe fact that life is right-hand twist DNA probably means left-hand was unsuccessful due to chemistry either in itself or in the environment, because an inversion of a molecule (chirality, twist, etc) means it will behave completely differently chemically. So left-hand twist can exist, but not necessarily in a way that can build life...even if it's able to initially replicate.