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Welcome to the ACPA Seminar Series, a monthly webinar series including various topics of interest related to advancing the Chemical Profession in Alberta. For the next seminar in this series, we are happy to introduce Nicholas Platts, Ph.D., P.Chem, for 'A (geo)chemical underpinning for earliest-recognizable "pre-RNA" materials, upstream in Time of the RNA World for Biology on February 11, 2026. Each seminar will be eligible for 1 PDC credit.
Agenda:
6:45 PM MT - Networking
7:00 PM MT - Seminar
Registration Deadline: February 10, 2026
Seminar Abstract:
2025 was a great year for Biology's RNA World hypothesis, given news that material retrieved from asteroid "Bennu" contains nitrogenous heterocycles (incl. all 5 bio-canonical nucleobases), as well as [racemic] sugars (incl. ribose). So if these kinds of molecules could've been present in Darwin's "warm little pond," then Chemistry may be able to provide a rational explanation for the formation of recognisable "pre-RNA" oligo-materials on the early-Earth (& potentially on other suitable planets, as well). In 1953, the chemical description of the iconic DNA model's sec-tertiary structure apparently missed a facet, and consequently a clue to the possibility of life's origination via the RNA World route. How & why this happened, with light kindly shone on some of the historical aspects by Dr. Maxine F. Singer (1931-2024) & Prof. James D. Watson (1928-2025), along with the seeming implications (across several scientific fronts) are matters discussed in this talk.
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