Question

The synthesis of DNA or RNA from the organic soup would have been guided by the actions of enzymes in the ______.

Options

• protein-first hypothesis

• RNA-first hypothesis

• clay-catalyst hypothesis

• none of the above

Answer 1

The synthesis of DNA or RNA from the organic soup would have been guided by the actions of enzymes in the protein-first hypothesis.

Explanation:

The protein-first hypothesis posits that enzymes (which are proteins) played a crucial role in guiding the synthesis of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) from simpler constituents in the prebiotic organic soup. Proteins, acting as primitive enzymes, would have catalyzed the formation and polymerization of nucleotides into nucleic acids. This contrasts with the RNA-first hypothesis, which suggests RNA molecules had catalytic functions themselves, and the clay-catalyst hypothesis, which involves mineral surfaces catalyzing polymer formation without enzymes.