PNA is a pseudopeptide DNA mimic in which the natural nucleobases have been retained, but the backbone consists ofN‐(2‐aminoethyl)glycine units to which the nucleobases are attached via methylene carbonyl linkers. The finding that PNA forms Warson‐Crick‐like helices with complementary DNA, RNA or PNA combined with the fact PNA is held together by amide bonds has made PNA of interest as a model for a primordial genetic material. Furthermore, the PNA backbone is achiral, while preferred chirality can be induced in PNA‐PNA double helices by attached chiral ligands, thereby providing a new way of ‘‘chiral amplification.’’ Finally, it has been demonstrated that PNA‐template directed synthesis of RNA and PNA is feasible. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.