3 ms·

what I'm saying is, RNA, great, that's a Thing. I just don't think that finding a mechanism for RNA to arise is the big step. I think the Big Step is going to

what I'm saying is, RNA, great, that's a Thing. I just don't think that finding a mechanism for RNA to arise is the big step. I think the Big Step is going to be discovery of a set of molecules that use what's available to make more of that set. Could the molecules in that set be RNA? Sure! Do they have to be RNA? I have no idea. How small can that set be? Can it be a single molecular species? That would be fascinating! I'd think it would probably take more than one, though. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just trying to stir the pot of ideas.

ramraj07 4y ago
So wait, you think there could be a potentially simpler system than a SINGLE MOLECULE OF RNA that is self replicating (I.e. if all you provide is a chemical solution with the raw base ingredients it can build more of itself with no other help)? That’s awesome. Please share, no hyperbole intended, what your hypothesis is. But that doesn’t change the fact that RNA world fits the most amount of our observations. I already described proving it’s plausibility in our experiments. On top of that please don’t forget that ribosomes, the complexes that produce proteins in our body, are mostly RNA, and the rna part is the primary enzymatic system in it. That is, we actually have a vestige of a system where rna ruled the world. I’m not even asking you for proof, I’m asking you to even put forward an actual molecular system that you think is better suited to explain this than rna.