An RNA-based evolution system was constructed in the laboratory and used to develop RNA enzymes with novel catalytic function. By controlling the nature of the catalytic task that the molecules must perform in order to survive, it is possible to direct the evolving population toward the expression of some desired catalytic behavior. More recently, this system has been coupled to an in vitro translation procedure, raising the possibility of evolving protein enzymes in the laboratory to produce novel proteins with desired catalytic properties. The aim of this line of research is to reduce darwinian evolution, the fundamental process of biology, to a laboratory procedure that can be made to operate in the service of organic synthesis.

中文翻译：

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催化功能的进化

实验室构建了基于RNA的进化系统，用于开发具有新型催化功能的RNA酶。通过控制分子为了生存而必须执行的催化任务的性质，可以引导进化中的种群表达一些所需的催化行为。最近，该系统已与体外翻译程序相结合，提高了在实验室中进化蛋白质酶以产生具有所需催化特性的新型蛋白质的可能性。这一系列研究的目的是将达尔文进化论（生物学的基本过程）简化为可用于有机合成的实验室程序。