The coevolution theory of the origin of the genetic code

A review of the coevolution theory of the origin of the genetic code is presented. This theory maintains that the origin of the code should be sought in the biosynthetic relationships between amino acids. In particular, some amino acids, the precursors, occupied the structure of the genetic code early on. As the product amino acids developed from these precursors, part or all of the codon domain of the precursor amino acid was ceded to the product amino acids, which resulted in the structuring of the genetic code. This paper therefore reviews the evidence in favour of this theory. The existence of some molecular fossils representing the biosynthetic pathways on which the coevolution theory suggests biosynthetic transformations took place (precursor amino acid → product amino acid) seems to be a strong corroboration of this theory. A generalisation imposed by this theory on the ancestral metabolic state is then discussed and, finally, the main prospects that seem to stem from the coevolution theory are presented.     

2016年古生物学热点回眸

 2016年国际古生物研究领域见证了一系列重要事件和研究热点。本文回顾2016年在地球早期生命研究、琥珀中的特异保存化石、中生代羽毛的颜色的分子证据、志留纪古鱼、早泥盆世植物根系、古DNA等研究方向的重要进展,盘点了国际古生物研究领域的前沿及热点,部分展示了中国古生物学界做出的突出贡献。     

Raman and FTIR spectroscopy applied to the conservation report of paleontological collections: identification of Raman and FTIR signatures of several iron sulfate species such as ferrinatrite and sideronatrite

Fossil materials that contain iron sulfide are well known for their instability when exposed to oxygen and humidity. This term however combines a great variety of materials showing different types of damages. Most of them consist of crystal efflorescence appearing on the surface and inside the matrix. In this work, a methodology was determined for the analysis of these damages by the use of Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The infrared and Raman signatures of a large set of iron sulfates were characterized. Specific attention was paid to sideronatrite and ferrinatrite, which are two associated sodium/iron(III) sulfates, and their infrared and Raman bands were partially assigned. Analysis performed on a selection of 11 damaged fossils showed a great variety of degradation products: besides one case that appeared to be a synthetic resin close to polyvinylchloride acetate, which was applied with a brush on the fossil surface, all degradation products belong to the sulfate group. However, many iron‐free sulfates, such as gypsum, halotrichite, epsomite, or pentahydrite were found, often in association with iron sulfates. In one case, despite the presence of iron in the matrix, no iron sulfate could be detected. This shows that the term ‘pyritic fossil’, commonly used by collection managers, is not appropriate as it oversimplifies the reality. A name such as ‘sulfide‐containing fossil’ would be more suitable. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A kind of coccoid dinoflagellates-like fossils gives a new explanation of source of dinosterane in the Early-Middle Cambrian

The coccoid fossils covered with thick gelatinous envelop containing several gametes are discovered in gyps and salt deposits of Cambrian, H₄ well and chert bed of the base of Yuertus Formation (∈¹₁) of Xiaoerbulake Section. The fossils are described and compared with coccoid dinoflagellates. These fossils may be a coccoid life-cycle stage (vegetative cyst) of coccoid dinoflagellates. If this identification is correct, the coccoid dinoflagellates-like fossils could give a reasonable explanation of the dinoflagellate-specific biomarkers from Cambrian, H₄ well, Tarim Basin.     

孢粉化石的信息函数与古环境分析

介绍了利用化学石孢粉信息函数进行古环境分析的基本原理及其计算方法。研究表明：影响孢粉化石丰富程度的因素主要有古气候、古地貌、沉积环境等;通过对孢粉化石丰度、分异度的研究,即可恢复古环境。     

塔中地区志留系层序地层及遗迹学特征

根据钻井、测井资料,结合区域地质背景,塔中志留系可划分为层序1、层序2和层序3三个三级层序,每一个层序可进一步划分为海侵体系域和高位体系域。层序1海侵体系域可细分为相带l和相带2,即,砂泥岩薄互层岩相和板状交错层理砂岩岩相。相带l反映了潮间带混合坪沉积环境,遗迹化石丰富,以进食迹和居住迹为主,纵向上,由下到上,丰度、分异度和生物扰动指数逐渐降低。相带2反映了潮下带高能环境,遗迹化石的丰度和分异度都比较低,只发现少量居住潜穴;层序1高位体系域反映了潮上带泥坪沉积环境,纵向上构成一个向上变细的序列。泥坪中以进食迹和居住迹为主,相时于海侵体系域相带2,属种组成明显不同,丰度和分异度也显著提高。在高位体系域内部,由下到上,丰度和分异度逐渐降低,生物扰动指数逐渐下降。综上所述,在同一层序内部,不仅不同体系域中遗迹化石组成、丰度及分异度存在差异,而且同一体系域内部遗迹化石特征也存在规律性的变化。     

Early Cambrian phosphatized blastula- and gastrula-stage animal fossils from southern Shaanxi

Marine invertebrate animal embryos and their early developmental products are of great significance to the study of taxonomy and phylogeny of early animals. A great number of phosphatized globular fossils were collected fromthe early Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Member (upper Dengying Formation), southern Shaanxi, and a nearly complete develo-pmental sequence—from a fertilized egg, via blastodisc formation, blastula development, blastodisc enlargement toward gastrulae, to tissue differentiation—can be discerned in this collection. This discovery provides unmatchable material for studies on the origin, taxonomy, radiation, and ontogeny of early metazoans.     

Early Cambrian protoconodonts and conodont-like fossils from China: Taxonomic revisions and stratigraphic implications

Tooth likephosphaticprotoconodontsand“con odont likefossils”arecharacteristiccomponentsoftheEarlyCambriansmallshellyfossils (SSF )withaworldwidedistribution .Theyarerepresentedexclu sivelybyisolatedscleritesandareoften presentinaceticacid etchedresiduesfromLowerCambriancar bonates .SincethefirstreportofProtohertzinaMis sarzhevsky 1973fromthebasalCambrianoftheYangtzePlatformin 1977[1] ,andalongwithenthusi asticresearchactivitiesonthesmallshellyfossilsandcandidatesectionsforaglobalPrecamb…     

福州市沿海养殖双壳类动物重金属研究

本文对福州市沿海养殖区的双壳类体内铅、镉、铜、锌含量加以比较研究。河口附近养殖的缢蛏体内铅和镉含量,比养殖于近海或内湾的高。内湾养殖的菲律宾蛤仔体内铜含量,比养殖于近海区的高。铅对贻贝、缢蛏、菲律宾蛤仔、长牡蛎的污染达到轻度或中度,这表明铅是福州市沿海养殖双壳类动物的重要污染因子。根据指数分析,五种双壳类受重金属综合污染程度顺序为:菲律宾蛤仔>缢蛏>褶牡蛎>长牡蛎>贻贝,但四种重金属含量均未超标。铅和铜的含量高低与养殖方式有关,趋向于吊养种类体内铅和铜含量较低,而埕养种类的铅含量和条石养殖种类的铜含量较高。