Theory 10/Molecular/RNA structure
RNA Folds on an Energy Balance
The claim
RNA secondary structure is set by the ratio of base-pairing energy to loop entropy, so a helix forms only when the pairing gain exceeds the cost of closing a loop.
01Mechanism
Each base pair stabilises while each unpaired loop costs entropy; the balance determines which helices are stable.
02Prediction
Structure should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Structure tracking pairing energy alone would remove loop cost.