Life began in an RNA world
PLAUSIBLEActiveUpdated 11 Jun 2026
Self-replicating RNA molecules, acting as both genetic material and catalyst, preceded DNA and proteins and bootstrapped the first evolving systems.
Evidence balance
support 100%oppose 0%
Supporting
2- Prebiotic synthesis of activated ribonucleotidesw72
Powner, Gerland & Sutherland · 2009 · Peer-reviewed
Prebiotic ribonucleotide synthesis boosts RNA-world plausibility.
- Miller–Urey amino-acid synthesisw45
Stanley L. Miller · 1953 · Experiment
Miller–Urey shows building blocks form readily (supports abiogenesis generally).
Opposing
0None recorded.
Assumptions
RNA can both store information and catalyze its own replication
unjustified — Partially shown; full self-replication not yet achieved.
Prebiotic chemistry could supply enough RNA
unjustified
Open questions within this hypothesis
- How did the first RNA replicator arise?
- Was metabolism first instead?
Falsification criteria
Demonstrating a viable metabolism-first pathway, or showing RNA self-replication is prebiotically impossible, would weaken or falsify it.