Spontaneous Prebiotic RNA Formation

Establish whether and how significant quantities of RNA molecules could have formed spontaneously under plausible prebiotic atmospheric or oceanic conditions on early Earth, and identify reproducible synthesis pathways that generate such RNA without protein enzymes.

Background

The authors discuss the RNA world hypothesis and note a key unresolved issue: laboratory demonstrations of self-replicating RNA typically require protein enzymes, undermining claims of spontaneous prebiotic RNA synthesis. They highlight the lack of reproducible, enzyme-free routes producing substantial quantities of RNA under early Earth conditions.

This problem is central to evaluating RNA-first scenarios and the feasibility of self-replication emerging before sophisticated biological catalysts existed.