Question

According to current thinking, the minimum requirement for life to have originated on Earth was the formation of a _____________.

(a) molecule that could provide a template for the production of a complementary molecule
(b) double-stranded DNA helix
(c) molecule that could direct protein synthesis
(d) molecule that could catalyze its own replication

Answer 1

The minimum requirement for the origin of life on Earth was likely a self-replicating molecule such as RNA, supporting the 'RNA world' hypothesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to current thinking, the minimum requirement for life to have originated on Earth was the formation of a molecule that could catalyze its own replication. This reflects the possibility that life began with the emergence of RNA or a similar self-replicating molecule, long before the more complex relationships between DNA, RNA, and proteins evolved. RNA is believed to be capable of both storing genetic information and catalyzing chemical reactions, which supports the notion of an early 'RNA world' as a significant stepping stone in the origin of life.