The "RNA world" hypothesis posits that
- Acheck_circle
RNA was the first genetic material, capable of both information storage and catalysis (ribozymes), preceding DNA and proteins
- B
Proteins were the first self-replicating molecules and only later transferred information to nucleic acid carriers
- C
DNA evolved before RNA and originally served both as catalyst and as the only template for early replication
- D
Lipid membranes encoded the first genetic information before any nucleic acid catalysts had appeared on Earth
Explanation
RNA's dual role explains how genetic and catalytic functions could coexist in early life before the DNA/protein/RNA division of labor.