The RNA World

Estimated time: 2 minutes

CBSE: Class 12
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: RNA World

Discovery of Ribozymes - Sidney Altman and Thomas Cech independently discovered that RNAs can act as biocatalysts.
RNA World hypothesis - The RNA World hypothesis suggests that early life was based exclusively on nucleic acids, most probably RNA, and was first proposed by Carl Woese, Francis Crick, and Leslie Orgel in 1960.
Evidence for RNA World - RNA is found abundantly in all living cells, structurally related to DNA, and can evolve, replicate, and catalyse reactions.
Formation of primitive cells - RNA molecules underwent replication, mutation, and developed their own machinery to form primitive cells.
Formation of DNA - Double-stranded DNA formed eventually, resulting in rich biodiversity.