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Due to discovery of which of the following in 1980, the evolution was termed as RNA world :
A
mRNA, tRNA and rRNA synthesise proteins
B
In some viruses RNA is genetic material
C
RNA has enzymatic property
D
RNA is not found in all cells
Detailed Solution
In the early 1980s, Thomas Cech and Sidney Altman discovered that some RNA molecules can act as catalysts (ribozymes), e.g. self-splicing introns and RNase P.
This showed that RNA can both store genetic information and catalyse reactions.
So it was proposed that early life was based on RNA alone (the 'RNA world'), before DNA and protein enzymes evolved.
So the term RNA world came from the discovery that RNA has enzymatic properties.
This showed that RNA can both store genetic information and catalyse reactions.
So it was proposed that early life was based on RNA alone (the 'RNA world'), before DNA and protein enzymes evolved.
So the term RNA world came from the discovery that RNA has enzymatic properties.