How a freezing pond could kick-start life's self-replication
Briefly

Recent research highlights how freeze-thaw cycles in icy ponds could allow enzymes to continuously replicate RNA double helices. This discovery lends credence to the 'RNA world' scenario, which posits that RNA was the first complex molecule in Earth's primordial conditions, leading to the emergence of life. The findings suggest a natural pathway for RNA self-replication, illustrating a plausible mechanism that may have contributed to the early stages of biological evolution.
The recent study suggests that freeze-thaw cycles in icy ponds could facilitate enzyme-driven RNA replication, offering new insights into the origins of life on Earth.
The 'RNA world' hypothesis, proposing RNA as life's initial complex molecule, gains traction as evidence points toward natural processes enabling self-replication.
Read at Nature
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