reproduction, a process in biological DNA that dates back 3.5 - 4.6 billion years.[1]I have removed this as it is inaccurate, early life may not have used DNA as its genome, RNA is a possibility but we have no evidence. Similarly, we have no evidence when sexual reproduction evolved. Most of the history of life on earth is bacterial and archaeal, and these organisms reproduce asexually.
TimVickers 17:07, 14 February 2007 (UTC)I have added some material on the evolutionary history of DNA to the "Overview of biological functions" introduction. TimVickers 17:54, 14 February 2007 (UTC) Hi Tim this is interesting that time frames of 3 billion years plus or minus a billion are not able to be included.
DNA needs a structure of time to place life, sexual life, and asexual life into. I would suggest at this point that the time line of atomic formulation is important to discuss. All heavy elements like Gold and Uranium are formed in exploding stars or supernova and then recollected together to from solar systems. The atoms that form molecules that then form DNA have time lines that take place after atom formulation and conglomeration. As we look back into time we can say that DNA formed between the formation of Atoms/Molecules and say up to the formation of the Wikipedia page on DNA.
This is a large time period and we know something happened in there. I give you your point that it is hard to prove but I still suggest that a time frame is important at the beginning of this page for new readers to DNA to have some perspective on when DNA started the formation of life. First the solar system formed, then DNA formed and then Wikipedia formed. Please puts some dates on this to inform the reader.RoddyYoung 09:23, 24 February 2007 (UTC)The formation of atoms is indeed a very interesting area. However, a problem I see in adding information to this article on the formation of matter is that this material would have to be repeated in every article that deals with mater-based objects.
It might be better to simply add this once to the specific article on matter. TimVickers 17:10, 24 February 2007 (UTC) The same agument you put forward on matter could be used for adding a time frame as to when DNA and RNA started replicating. I agree with you that Matter formation does not have to be included in the DNA page due to its generally accepted understanding. However to not include a date for the formation for DNA in the DNA page is missing an important element in the wiki. RoddyYoung 13:16, 6 March 2007 (UTC) If you can find a reliable high-quality source that deals with this, then please by all means add it to the section on "Evolution of DNA-based metabolism".
However, I have not been able to find this information, since, as I explain in this section, I don't think anybody really knows. TimVickers 17:18, 6 March 2007 (UTC) The development of DNA by Stephen Hawking is outlined here and covers the points I made as well as your points. This will give the reader a background. However after you read it could you put a date on when you understand DNA to have formed 12 billion years as an outside (when no carbon atoms existed in the universe) to 2001 when wikipedia was invented and DNA could be edited in this form. If you can narrow this down form my inadequate attempt then that would be good. Other wise I am happy for my numbers to stand and go into the main document.RoddyYoung 04:48, 11 March 2007 (UTC)In that document it states "
We do not know how DNA molecules first appeared." It also does not state when this might have occurred. I don't see how I can use that document to write about how and when DNA originated. TimVickers 15:14, 10 March 2007 (UTC) "We do not know how DNA molecules first appeared" does not imply that they did not appear. (Truism). Dating when DNA appeared is independant as to how DNA molecules first appeared. We see today how DNA works and we know also that the complimentary stand process was the start of the process back then and that complimentary stand replication links all the way through time to today.
I am making these points as I was happy with the time frame 4 billion to 3 billion years ago DNA formed and replicated. By deleting this you become the gate keeper of the timing and by providing no date you perport that is better than a date plus or minus a billion years. You should not be able to have it both ways. RoddyYoung 04:48, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
