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The Origin and Evolution of Genetic Code
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The Origin and Evolution of Genetic Code

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 749

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kenji Ikehara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. G&L Kyosei Institute in the Keihanna Academy of Science and Culture (KASC), Keihanna Interaction Plaza, Lab. Wing 3F, 1-7 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Souraku, Kyoto 619-0237, Japan
2. The International Institute for Advanced Studies, Kizugawadai 9-3, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0225, Japan
Interests: the origin of life; the origin and evolution of the genetic code; the origin and evolution of genes; the origin and evolution of proteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We live under the genetic core system consisting of genes, the genetic code (tRNA), and proteins. At its center is the genetic code that mediates between genes (codons) and proteins (amino acids). Therefore, considering the origin and evolution of the genetic code also entails considering the origin and evolution of genes and proteins. In this Special Issue, we invite papers that broadly explore and discuss topics ranging from the origin and evolution of the genetic code to that of genes and proteins, in other words, to the origin and evolution of life.

Prof. Dr. Kenji Ikehara
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • origin of the genetic code
  • evolution of the genetic code
  • origin of gene
  • evolution of gene
  • origin of protein
  • evolution of protein
  • origin of life
  • evolution of life

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

54 pages, 29918 KB  
Review
The Evolution of the First Code
by Lei Lei, Savio Torres de Farias and Zachary Frome Burton
Genes 2026, 17(5), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17050544 - 2 May 2026
Viewed by 286
Abstract
Background/Objectives: tRNAs, tRNAomes, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs), the first proteins, ribosomes and the genetic code coevolved. We utilize sequence data to reconstruct key steps in establishing the first code on Earth. Methods: Networks were constructed to describe initial tRNAome and AARSome evolution. Results: tRNA-34 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: tRNAs, tRNAomes, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs), the first proteins, ribosomes and the genetic code coevolved. We utilize sequence data to reconstruct key steps in establishing the first code on Earth. Methods: Networks were constructed to describe initial tRNAome and AARSome evolution. Results: tRNA-34 wobble and tRNA-37 modifications were necessary to evolve the code, as were additional tRNA modifications, so diverse tRNA modification enzymes (i.e., histidyl-tRNA -1 GTP synthase) are among the first proteins. tRNA-linked chemistry brought asparagine, glutamine, cysteine and possibly additional amino acids into the code. tRNA, tRNA modifications and tRNA-linked chemistry were core founding innovations for code evolution. Coevolution of AARSomes was also essential. Class II and class I AARSs have distinct folds but are nonetheless homologs by sequence. Early AARS enzymes folded around Zn motifs. Networks were generated for tRNAomes and AARSomes in ancient Archaea, because Archaea are the closest living organisms to the last universal common ancestor. Conclusions: The first code on Earth was surprisingly ordered, and the few apparent deviations from the regular order can yet be explained. Early in the evolution of the code, innovation was more strongly selected than accuracy. The code froze, however, because of evolving fidelity mechanisms. A historical record was documented in tRNA and in the genetic code structure and has been preserved in living organism sequences. AARSome structure describes the first code evolution more adequately than tRNAomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Origin and Evolution of Genetic Code)
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