I've suggested that for life to begin there must have been
some symbiosis between the linking of amino acids and proto tRNA.
This may be it:
"The facile abiotic synthesis of amino acids does present one problem. These syntheses are not
restricted to the formation of a-amino acids: B-amino acids, hydroxy acids, and simpler carboxylic
acids also are formed. If the simulated abiotic syntheses correctly reflect events on the primitive
Earth, then there must have been some mechanism for the selection of the a-amino acids from all the
other acids present." (Biochem, Zubay)
Perhaps the proto tRNA in some way bonded (h-bonds?) to the amino acids in a way that favored the
formation of a -amino acids. That would be the mechanism that we are looking for. That would then
favor not only a-amino acids but tRNA too. And that could conceivably evolve to the symbiosis we
have now between the two.
Comment?