Several scientific laboratories across the globe are involved in research concerning the origin of life on Earth. Which of these questions is currently the most problematic and would have the greatest impact on our understanding if we were able to answer it?
A) How can amino acids, simple sugars, and nucleotides be synthesized abiotically?
B) How can RNA molecules catalyze reactions?
C) How did RNA sequences come to carry the code for amino acid sequences?
D) How could polymers involving lipids and/or proteins form membranes in aqueous environments?
E) How can RNA molecules act as templates for the synthesis of complementary RNA molecules?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Understanding how RNA sequences came to carry the code for amino acid sequences would have the greatest impact on our understanding of the origin of life as it would provide insight into how the first organisms could have formed and evolved. This process is known as the RNA world hypothesis and is still a topic of much debate and research. Answers to the other questions would also be important for understanding the origin of life, but they would not have as great of an impact as answering question C.

Several Scientific Laboratories Across the Globe Are Involved in Research