Nick Lane convincingly shows why metabolism originated before genes at the Origin of Life

Nick Lane, Gifford lecture 2026

Evolutionary biochemist and author Nick Lane for the first time unequivocally rejected DNA- and gene-centric thinking in his Gifford Lecture on 8 Sep 2026.  

 

The paramount position of genes in biology. [8:54]

In his previous public lectures he promoted the metabolism-first point of view and casually dismissed DNA-centric thinking. Now he started his lecture with a clear rejection of DNA-centric thinking. Since I have been blogging several times about DNA- and gene-centric thinking, I want to bring this lecture to the attention of my regular blog readers.  

Are genes a good guide to life on Earth? [21:39]

I highly recommend this lecture especially for those who never watched a lecture of Nick Lane. This lecture is now the most up-to-date version of his scientific position. Lane is a scientist with original ideas and is not afraid to tackle the most intractable problems in evolution and the origin of life. He doesn't hesitate to confront some mainstream ideas in evolutionary biology. Refreshingly, he adds that his ideas might be wrong! Moreover, he is an excellent popularizer of science. His lectures continue to broaden and sharpen my understanding.

The chemistry is older than genes [52:45]

The latest evidence shows that Bacteria and Archaea are significantly different in their genetics, but share the same chemistry. The genes and enzymes that katalyse the biochemical reactions are not the same [1]. So this is spontaneous chemistry. Again, this is an argument for the primacy of chemistry and metabolism. Genes and enzymes arise later [2].

  

In the last 10 minutes Lane answers questions. He points out why the mainstream RNA-world hypothesis for the Origin of Life fails. It is a dead end. You end up with very fast replicating RNA molecules but nothing more than that. No cells. No life. The right chemistry starts with CO₂.
In my next blog I will continue with new arguments against mainstream DNA-centric thinking.

Source

Youtube 8 Sep 2026. 

 

Notes

1. However, other sources maintain that "Many genes that handle basic chemical reactions, energy production, and amino acid synthesis are common to both domains", but "genes for DNA replication, transcription, and translation are vastly different in Bacteria."
2. Amazingly, "Genes and enzymes arise later" is Ganti's Chemoton model back  in 1971! (my review on my WDW website, see for example note 26).

 

Further Reading

• A New Study Points to Two Origins of Life on Earth by Tracing Early Chemical Reactions in Single-Celled Organisms. August 5, 2026

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