how are self-replicating molecules, such as rna molecules in the "RNA world" hypothesis, essential to the most popular hypothesis about the orgin of life on earth

Question

blues · Answer

There is a "chicken or egg first?" problem with DNA and protein: did DNA evolve first and store info for protein, or did protein evolve first and DNA become an info storage molecule or template for it? Either scenario seems conceptually flawed.

So most scientists like the self perpetuating RNA molecules - where the info to replicate the molecule is stored in the molecule itself and the catalytic properties are right there too, so no need for proteins.

anonymous · Answer

thank you :D