Question

One possible catalyst for the early genesis of RNA molecules could be

: a) olivene crystals
b) cytoplasm
c) phospholipid capsules
d) montmorillonite clay

Answer 1

Montmorillonite clay is a possible catalyst for the early genesis of RNA molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The answer to the question is d) montmorillonite clay. Montmorillonite clay is a possible catalyst for the early genesis of RNA molecules. It has been shown in scientific studies that montmorillonite clay can catalyze the formation of RNA-like oligomers, which are precursors to RNA molecules.

For example, a study by Ertem et al. (2008) demonstrated that montmorillonite clay can catalyze the abiotic formation of RNA-like oligomers. This provides evidence for the role of montmorillonite clay as a catalyst in the early genesis of RNA molecules.

Furthermore, the RNA world hypothesis proposes that RNA was the first organic molecule to evolve and that early life was based solely on RNA. RNA can encode genetic instructions like DNA and can also carry out chemical reactions like proteins, making it a suitable molecule for the early genesis of life.