I am currently working to elucidate the evolution of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) enzymes. These are the enzymes that charge tRNAs with amino acids. aaRS enzymes coevolved with translation systems, amino acids, tRNAomes and the genetic code. Strangely, aaRS coevolution with amino acids and tRNAs is reflected in the structure of the genetic code. If you understand evolution of tRNAomes, amino acids, aaRS enzymes and the genetic code, you have a deeper understanding of evolution of life on earth. The events that you observe occurred about 4 billion years ago on earth, so these insights are collectibles, maybe even antiques. This study is being done with Kris Opron (U of M Bioinformatics Core) and Yunsoo Kim (U of M).