# evol: life as a product of molecular self-assembly

<< There are currently two main schools of thought regarding the origins of RNA. In one school, RNA is considered to be a product of nonenzymatic, prebiotic reactions. In the other, RNA is considered to be a product of chemical and/or biological evolution. >>

AA << report progress toward finding a proto-RNA that is the product of molecular self-assembly. >>

Cafferty B.J., Fialho D.M., Hud N.V. (2018) Searching for Possible Ancestors of RNA: The Self-Assembly Hypothesis for the Origin of Proto-RNA. In: Menor-Salvan C. (eds) Prebiotic Chemistry and Chemical Evolution of Nucleic Acids. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology, vol 35. Springer, Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-93584-3_5

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-93584-3_5

Joelle Renstrom. New study identifies possible ancestors of RNA. Astrobiol  Mag. Sep 17, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-ancestors-rna.html