The Discovery of Ribozymes Provides Evidence That Life on the Early

Question

The discovery of ribozymes provides evidence that life on the early Earth may have been based on:
A)DNA.
B)proteins.
C)RNA.
D)lipids.
E)polysaccharides.

Accepted Answer

The discovery of ribozymes (RNA molecules with catalytic activity) suggests that the earliest forms of life on Earth may have been based on RNA, which was both genetic material and able to carry out chemical reactions. This hypothesis is known as the RNA world hypothesis. DNA likely evolved later as a more stable and efficient form of genetic material, while proteins are believed to have evolved to carry out enzymatic functions more efficiently than RNA. Lipids and polysaccharides are important components of cellular membranes and energy storage, respectively, but do not play a central role in the origins of life.