The opening post would be much more impressive if the poster surveyed and critiqued the origin of life literature, instead of asking us random internet folks to do all of his research for him.
That said, I have read a bit about this. The basic concept missing is the RNA World, which is based in part on the fact that most of the core parts of the translation machinery you are talking about are made from RNA. RNA can both (1) store information and (2) catalyze reactions. So the DNA-->RNA-->protein system actually got started in the middle, with DNA being added as a more stable information storage system, and proteins added as a better set of catalysts.
If you want a pretty detailed model on how the very basics of replication and translation originated, read this:
Cavalier-Smith T. (2001)
Obcells as proto-organisms: membrane heredity, lithophosphorylation, and the origins of the genetic code, the first cells, and photosynthesis. J Mol Evol. 53(4-5):555-95.
On a related topic, I just came across this fairly mind-blowing paper, which actually does specifically test some models about early events in the evolution of life:
Chomin Cunchillos and Guillaume Lecointre (2003)
Evolution of Amino Acid Metabolism Inferred through Cladistic Analysis
J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 278, Issue 48, 47960-47970
http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/278/48/47960
This message has been edited by Nic Tamzek, 11-18-2004 01:43 AM
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