The RNA Origin of Life Debate

The Darwinian threshold refers to the point at which information begins to flow from generation to generation, allowing for replicators to give rise to progeny replicators.

RNA can perform the functions of both DNA and proteins, including storing and transmitting information and catalyzing reactions, making it a versatile polymer.

Fatty acid bubbles could encapsulate RNA and other molecules, creating a primitive environment for early life forms to replicate and evolve.

Riboswitches are RNA molecules that can change shape in response to binding ligands, indicating that RNA could have played a role in early metabolic processes.

The RNA World Hypothesis suggests that early life was based on RNA, which served both as genetic material and as a catalyst for biochemical reactions.

The universality of ribosomes and the conserved RNA structures across all life forms suggest that RNA was a key molecule in the early stages of life.

The central dogma describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein, where DNA is the information storage, RNA acts as a messenger, and proteins perform cellular functions.

RNA viruses demonstrate that life can exist with just RNA, providing a model for understanding how early life may have functioned.

Ribosomes are RNA-centric machines that decode the genetic information and synthesize proteins, indicating the central role of RNA in life's processes.

DNA is more stable due to its double-stranded structure and lower mutation rate, making it a better long-term information storage molecule.

The three main information polymers are DNA, RNA, and protein.