The First Genes on Earth Were Probably

Question

The first genes on Earth were probably
A) DNA produced by reverse transcriptase from abiotically produced RNA.
B) DNA molecules whose information was transcribed to RNA and later translated in polypeptides.
C) auto-catalytic RNA molecules.
D) oligopeptides located within protobionts.

Accepted Answer

There is strong evidence that RNA was the first genetic material on Earth. RNA can act as both genetic material and a catalyst, making it a plausible candidate for the first self-replicating system. It is likely that the first genes on Earth were auto-catalytic RNA molecules.