GRAND SÉMINAIRE – Philippe Barthélémy

Title: The evolution of nucleic acids: past, present, and future

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules (DNAs and RNAs) are the organic material that living organisms use to produce copies of themselves. They are the organic support of the genetic information and their physical and chemical reactions properties have been intensively studied. Also, nucleic acids represent today a new potential therapeutic strategy for cancer, genetic diseases, neurodegenerative disorders or infectious diseases.

In this presentation we will highlight the chemistry, biology of these organic biomolecules and their properties with an emphasis on current biomedical applications and their perspectives. Also, we will explore the question of the origin of these fascinating molecules and discuss hypothesis on their prebiotic formation. The concept that specific structures and/or assemblies played a role in their prebiotic chemistry is still speculative but it’s gaining interest as researchers look for alternatives to the classic “RNA world” hypothesis.