Pace N R, Spiegelman S
Science. 1966 Jul 1;153(3731):64-7. doi: 10.1126/science.153.3731.64.
When purified Qbeta-RNA replicase is presented alternately with two genetically different Qbeta-RNA molecules, the RNA synthesized is identical to the initiating template. The results establish that the RNA is the instructive agent in the replicative process and hence that it satisfies the operational definition of a self-duplicating entity. The data also eliminate alternative explanations which do not involve self-propagation of the input RNA. An opportunity is now provided for studying the genetics and evolution of a self-duplicating nucleic acid molecule under conditions permitting detailed control of environmental parameters and chemical components.
当纯化的Qβ - RNA复制酶与两个基因不同的Qβ - RNA分子交替呈现时，合成的RNA与起始模板相同。这些结果表明，RNA是复制过程中的指导因子，因此它符合自我复制实体的操作定义。数据还排除了不涉及输入RNA自我传播的其他解释。现在有机会在允许详细控制环境参数和化学成分的条件下，研究自我复制核酸分子的遗传学和进化。
