central dogma

[jennyellen13]

hello everybody, as much help as poss please!
for uni we have to write a essay on the one we think is most important, and argue why its important. im a bit unsure what one is, im between DNA and RNA but havent seen much about Protein!! i understand that DNA stores the information while RNA functions everything but what would be the most important out of the three?

thank you in advance
Jenny

[JackBean]

Without any of these, the cell couldn't work
(althrough you can find exceptions like vira or prions)

[kolean]

An analogy: DNA is the blueprints for the house. RNA is the workers who take the blueprints and make the house. Proteins is the material that the workers use to actually make the house. So what is the most important to you?

[biohazard]

Well, RNA is capable of storing and replicating information (e.g. RNA viruses) as well as working as an enzyme (e.g. ribozymes), whilst DNA only does the first and proteins the latter! Though as far as I know, these properties of RNA rarely take place in the same event, so they need protein or DNA help as well. Positive-sense ssRNA viruses can even utilise their genome directly as if it was mRNA, so they don't even have to rely on reverse transcriptase that other RNA viruses typically require.

But anyway, RNA might be my answer - after all, one of the more popular theories of the origins of life suggests that first there was RNA that replicated itself, and only later emerged DNA and proteins. So RNA could start new life alone, DNA or proteins probably not :)

[JackBean]

DNA can catalyze some reactions as well

[biohazard]

Yeah, there appears to be a few papers about DNA catalyzing this and that but I couldn't really tell what is the actual significance of this to a living cell. Do you happen to know a good paper regarding this?

Anyhow, the last section of my previous post is still pretty much how I view this question. But like said here before, for a living cell all three are crucial - only viruses can get away with just two of these biomolecules.

[jennyellen13]

thanks for you replies everybody, im still struggling on what one because there are three essay titles saying each of the three molecules so we can only choose one and talk briefly about the others in it. and my lecturer wants a good argument, its not all on the scientific stuff just a good argument why you think that!!! sorry its stressing me out already, a day at the library soon i think!!

[jennyellen13]

im thinking DNA because its more stable than RNA so means it would last longer, even thought RNA does most the important work it would need DNA in the first place. does that sound about right? any arguments against that? or any arguments for that?

[biohazard]

Are we talking about an eukaryotic cell, any biological multiplying entity or life in general? The topic is vague, you could have solid arguments for all those molecules. Even proteins have not only structural and enzymatic functions but also a means to replicate themselves without nucleic acids in certain situations.

[Dougalbod]

All three are important, but that doesn't help you:)
If I had to choose, it would be protein - DNA/RNA are important but they have basically only one role - to make protein. But proteins essentially make everything else happen - so they have a wide range of roles - transport, synthesis, structure, movement, the immune system etc etc etc. Plus amino acids are basically simple molecules, they are balanced, easy to remember releative to nucleotides, elegant - they have beauty which nucleotides don't have (in my view).

HTH

Dougal

[kolean]

DNA is a good choice. Yes, it is the most stable. And if you mutate, then all would be lost. And RNA can mutate and is unreadable, and then the cell would degrade it and continue onwards. And if a protein goes bad, you just have to wait for the protein to get destroyed by the immune system (who will recognize it not as self and destroy it). But if DNA mutates then all is lost for the cell and apoptosis (cell death) is the best way the cell can go, otherwise it will be a cancerous mutated cell and not stable for the organism, and alas, all will be totally lost.

[jwalin]

do not forget everything is important. its just like the mordern world with it's division of labour.
for making a car someone makes the tiers and someone makes the body and someone assembles it.
without anyone the car wouldn't work
please try and argue that all are equally important. will have a lot to argue. your proff will not argue your stance. it's a different choice you will pick up but the right one