Could RNA have been around pre-biotically?

[cliffhanley203]

Homework Statement

I’m reading my way through the Brittanic.com article on abiogenesis and I have a question regards the following line taken from the article;[/B]

“...a single RNA catalyst could have produced mulitiple living forms...”

Q. Is this implying that RNA could have existed pre-biotically? That it could have caused the first life forms (‘...produced mulitiple living forms...’)?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Fewmet]

That's a reference to the RNA World hypothesis.

"According to this hypothesis, RNA stored both genetic information and catalyzed the chemical reactions in primitive cells. Only later in evolutionary time did DNA take over as the genetic material and proteins become the major catalyst and structural component of cells."

 

[pinball1970]

"RNA world" would be a good place to start a google search.You could also have a look at the sorts of organics found already that give a glimpse of the sorts molecules that could have been around on pre biotic earth.