Final answer:
The best sequence of events for the origin of life on Earth according to the current theory is RNA formation, followed by DNA formation, and then the development of simple bacteria. This is supported by the RNA world hypothesis, where RNA is considered the first genetic material capable of catalysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sequence of events that best describes the current theory of the origin of life on Earth is: RNA formation→DNA formation→Development of simple bacteria. This is based on the RNA world hypothesis, which postulates that early life was based on RNA. RNA has the dual ability to store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions, addressing the chicken-and-egg problem of whether proteins or genetic material came first.
During the RNA World, RNA would have been the key player in early life forms on Earth, with its ability to store genetic instructions and also behave like an enzyme to catalyze its own replication and other reactions essential for life. Eventually, through the mechanism proposed by the function of retroviral reverse transcriptase, RNA sequences were reverse transcribed into DNA, leading to the first DNA-based cellular life forms and the development of simple bacteria. This transition marked the evolution from an RNA World to a DNA and protein world, laying the foundation for all known life today.