Final answer:
The discovery of catalytic RNA, or ribozymes, lends considerable support to the RNA World Hypothesis, which suggests that RNA was the original genetic material.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discovery of catalytic RNA molecules, also known as ribozymes, significantly complements the hypothesis that RNA was the original genetic material. This concept is integral to the RNA World Hypothesis, which posits a time in the origin of life where RNA served the dual roles of genetic storage and catalysis. Ribozymes exemplify the catalytic prowess of RNA by facilitating various biochemical reactions, including RNA splicing and peptide bond formation during protein synthesis.
The relevance of such RNA-based catalysis is not confined to theoretical constructs but is underscored by the discovery of self-replicating RNA molecules. Their existence suggests a potential prebiotic scenario where life could have begun with RNA molecules that possessed the ability to catalyze their replication and encode genetic information. This supports the idea of an RNA-centred biochemical system prior to the evolution of DNA and protein-based systems. Understanding RNA's properties of storing information and catalysis underlines its significance in early life forms and the evolutionary transition to the DNA-RNA-protein world we observe today.