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RNA World Hypothesis Essay

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RNA world hypothesis is a hypothesis to explain the origins of cells. According to the theory, a form of RNA, or ribonucleic acid, developed that was capable of self-replicating. It is said to be the earliest life forms, from which all other organisms come. While modern organisms are built up from proteins, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and RNA, this organism is said to have consisted only of DNA. The reason scientists believe RNA was the first biomolecular structure is because it stores information in a similar role to DNA, but at the same time acts as a catalyst in some reactions, like protein. Catalysts accelerate the rate of reactions necessary to metabolize, or balance a cell. Essentially, RNA fulfills some roles of DNA and protein, thus …show more content…

For one thing, prebiotic Earth did not have favorable conditions for the formation of nucleotides by any means. One such problem is that nucleotides require a phosphate group to link, which is implausible to have occurred naturally without life
The hazardous conditions of prebiotic Earth would also be constantly damaging and denaturing chemicals forming into RNA and traces of RNA, making it implausible for the RNA to cluster and begin replicating, as well as survive. Ribose likely would not be very sustainable within the early world, with the likely possibility of hydrolysis as one of many factors.
Since its conception in the 60’s, RNA world hypothesis has seen numerous discoveries and possibilities. As recently as 2011, there were RNA components found in meteorites such as guanine and adenine. This implies RNA may have come from space. Glycolaldehyde has been found in a distant star system, which is necessary to form RNA, and further backs the idea of extraterrestrial origins of life. Scientists have also tried to support the hypothesis with claims that RNA was the source of life as we know it, but other nucleic acids were the predecessor to RNA. One such suspect is peptide nucleic acid (PNA). Conclusive research behind such claims has yet to be

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