Resumo

AURELIANO, Manuel; NOLASCO, Pedro A.; SILVA, João J. R. Fraústo da  e  SILVA, José Armando L. da. Metalloids in origin and evolution of life. Quím. Nova [online]. 2012, vol.35, n.5, pp. 1062-1068. ISSN 0100-4042.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422012000500036.

Metalloids have characteristics between metals and non-metals which give them, in some cases, specific properties. At least two of this chemical elements, boron and silicon, are essential to a significant number of living organisms and since some years ago it has been observed that the same metalloids may be involved in the synthesis and stabilization of some molecules relevant to the origin of life.

Palavras-chave : RNA world; boron; silicon.