What molecule is the star of molecular biology?

Recent research shows RNA to be an active and central player in the molecular genetics story - a molecule that contains genetic information and acts as a biological catalyst. These modern roles of RNA provide clues to its possible participation in the origins of life.

• What is needed for life on Earth?
• Which molecules support life on Earth?
• What were the first molecules to form life?

Bringing RNA into View:
RNA and its Roles in Biology

Downloadable monograph

The following documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. It can either be downloaded as one large file:

Entire Document (3.79mb)

or as smaller individual chapters:

Chapter 1 "Introductory Pages" (0.65mb)
Chapter 2 "Annotated Faculty Pages" (1.92mb)
Chapter 3-4 "Copymasters and Templates" (0.63mb)
Chapter 5 "Student Pages" (1.52mb)

Update to printed copies of the monograph distributed by BSCS. The website for the mfold RNA folding program has moved to:
http://www.bioinfo.rpi.edu/applications/mfold/

Funding provided by a grant from The R. Harold Burton Foundation.