Answer to Question #11475 in Biochemistry for Rachael

Question

how are self-replicanting molecules, such as RNA molecules in the RNA world hypothesis, essential to the most popular hypothesis about the origin of life on earth?

Answer 1

Most theories of the origin of life concider RNA molecules, which
possess
ribozymes activity as a primary self-replicating molecules
that gave rise to
the development of life on Earth. Results of the
study two hypothetical
groups of ribozymes are the basis of modern
ideas about the origin of life.
First of all, this is an RNA
replicase, constructed entirely of
ribonucleotides. This assumption
seems particularly attractive,because the
ancient RNA molecules could
store genetic information and have enzymatic
activity necessary for
the reproduction of this information. This combination
of properties
in the RNA molecule can explain how the catalytic functions
performed
by modern protein molecules, as well as a function of storage
and
transmission of genetic information occurred simultaneously and
could
be present in a single precursor molecule ancestors of modern
cells.
Theories of the origin of life which based on the
original
participation of RNA molecules in the creation of
self-replicating
systems found strong support in connection with the opening
splicing
and ribozymes.