New method created to study origin of life

State College, Pa -- U.S. scientists say they have developed a computational tool that might lead to new understandings of how life began on Earth.

The Pennsylvania State University researchers say their new method has the potential to trace the evolutionary histories of proteins to either cells or viruses and possibly resolving the debate concerning which of those life forms came first.

"We have just begun to tap the potential power of this method," said Assistant Professor Randen Patterson, one of the project's leaders. "We believe if it is possible at all, it is within our grasp to determine whether viruses evolved from cells or vice versa."

The new computational method is to be reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and is available in the journal's early online issue.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.