The **RNA World Hypothesis** suggests that the earliest life was based on:
ADNA only
BProteins only
CRNA (which acts as both genetic material and catalyst)
DLipid membranes only
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. RNA (which acts as both genetic material and catalyst)
Hypothesis (Carl Woese, Crick, Orgel) supported by discovery of **ribozymes** — catalytic RNAs (Altman, Cech, 1980, Nobel 1989). RNA can both store information and catalyse reactions; ribosomes are RNA-catalysed. DNA evolved later as a more stable repository.
Related questions
Which of the following best illustrates **convergent evolution** (analogous structures ari**Ribozymes** are:Weismann's experiment of cutting rat tails for 21 generations disproved the theory of:Which of the following is **not** a force that changes allele frequencies (causing evoluti**Adaptive radiation** refers to:Which of these is a **post-zygotic** reproductive isolating mechanism?In a population, 16% individuals show a recessive phenotype (aa). Under Hardy-Weinberg, thIn a Hardy-Weinberg population, if the frequency of the recessive allele $a$ is $q = 0.3$,