What does the RNA World Hypothesis propose?

The RNA World Hypothesis suggests that early life forms were based on RNA as the principal molecule for storing and transmitting genetic information. This hypothesis posits that, before DNA and proteins became central to biological processes, RNA played a dual role as both a genetic material and a catalyst for chemical reactions, similar to how enzymes function today.

One of the foundational ideas behind this hypothesis is that RNA can act as both a repository of information, like DNA, and facilitate biochemical reactions, like proteins do through their enzymatic functions. This unique capability would have made RNA a crucial component in early cellular life, allowing it to store genetic instructions while also catalyzing the reactions necessary for metabolism and replication. This scenario sets the stage for the eventual evolution of DNA and proteins, as more complex forms of life developed over time.

While the other choices mentioned aspects of the early biochemical landscape, they do not align with the core premise of the RNA World Hypothesis, which emphasizes the primacy of RNA in the origins of life before the evolution of DNA and proteins.