Quantum Indeterminism, Mutation, Natural Selection, and the Meaning of Life

Stamos, David N.

doi:10.1002/9783527629213.ch31

Cited by 19 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 64 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…DNA and RNA are structured by a backbone of nucleobases, which belong to the family of polyfunctional aromatic compounds. The nucleobases building blocks contain exo groups (O/–OH and NH/–NH 2 ) and endo amino and imino nitrogen atoms (−NH–/N−) that are involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the well-known double-stranded DNA and various RNA, , and also in intramolecular proton transfers (prototropy) of nucleobases, which may be responsible for point mutations. − The intrinsic basicity (and acidity as well) of nucleobases were therefore thoroughly scrutinized. All nucleobases are push–pull molecules, but only cytosine, adenine, and guanine may be considered as nitrogen bases in the gas phase. − ,− Early gas-phase basicity measurements by various MS methodologies gave the possibility to determine their GBs and PAs with quite a good precision. − These values were re-examined by H&L and included in their last compilation .…”

Section: Push–pull Biomoleculesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Basicity of Push–Pull Nitrogen Bases in the Gas Phase

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nitrogen bases containing one or more pushing amino-group(s) directly linked to a pulling cyano, imino, or phosphoimino group, as well as those in which the pushing and pulling moieties are separated by a conjugated spacer (C═X), where X is CH or N, display an exceptionally strong basicity. The n-π conjugation between the pushing and pulling groups in such systems lowers the basicity of the pushing amino-group(s) and increases the basicity of the pulling cyano, imino, or phosphoimino group. In the gas phase, most of the so-called push-pull nitrogen bases exhibit a very high basicity. This paper presents an analysis of the exceptional gas-phase basicity, mostly in terms of experimental data, in relation with structure and conjugation of various subfamilies of push-pull nitrogen bases: nitriles, azoles, azines, amidines, guanidines, vinamidines, biguanides, and phosphazenes. The strong basicity of biomolecules containing a push-pull nitrogen substructure, such as bioamines, amino acids, and peptides containing push-pull side chains, nucleobases, and their nucleosides and nucleotides, is also analyzed. Progress and perspectives of experimental determinations of GBs and PAs of highly basic compounds, termed as "superbases", are presented and benchmarked on the basis of theoretical calculations on existing or hypothetical molecules.

show abstract

Section: Push–pull Biomoleculesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Basicity of Push–Pull Nitrogen Bases in the Gas Phase

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Mutation, Randomness, and Evolution

Stoltzfus¹

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mutation, Randomness, and Evolution presents a new understanding of how the course of evolution may reflect biases in variation and unites key concerns of molecular and microbial evolution, evo-devo, evolvability, and self-organization by placing these concerns on a solid theoretical and empirical foundation. It situates them within a broader movement away from externalism and towards a focus on the internal details of living systems, including their evolutionary causes and their predictable evolutionary consequences. In the neo-Darwinian theory, by contrast, selection is the potter and variation is the clay: external selection does the important work of evolution, and gets all the credit, while variation merely supplies an abundance of random raw materials. Indeed, one of the meanings of the randomness doctrine is that any peculiarities or tendencies of mutation are ultimately irrelevant. The theory that the course of evolution is determined externally, without any dispositional role for internal factors, was particularly attractive before the molecular revolution, when biologists had little systematic knowledge of internal factors. Today, scientists are deeply immersed in the molecular, genetic, and developmental details of life. The potential for a new understanding of the role of these internal factors rests on the recognition that the introduction process is a distinctive kind of cause, not the same thing (conceptually, historically, or theoretically) as the classical “force” of mutation, but with different implications, including the ability to impose biases on adaptive evolution. This predicted influence is verified by recent evidence from episodes of adaptation traced to the molecular level.

show abstract

Copyright Page

2021

Mutation, Randomness, and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Quantum Indeterminism, Mutation, Natural Selection, and the Meaning of Life

Cited by 19 publications

References 64 publications

Enhanced Basicity of Push–Pull Nitrogen Bases in the Gas Phase

Enhanced Basicity of Push–Pull Nitrogen Bases in the Gas Phase

Mutation, Randomness, and Evolution

Copyright Page

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About