Scientists and philosophers have long debated the meaning of life, with recent consensus that life requires the ability to reproduce and evolve through natural selection. Exploring the origins of life on Earth has revealed a possible solution involving RNA, which may have acted as both a protein enzyme and information carrier. The discovery that RNA can catalyze reactions and replicate itself has answered the “chicken or egg” dilemma of life’s origin. This new perspective suggests a simpler time in Earth’s history, known as “the RNA world,” where RNA played a central role in the development of life. Exciting research continues to illuminate the path from chemistry to biology and the emergence of life on Earth.
https://nautil.us/the-incredible-conundrum-of-lifes-origin-1178890/