Prebiotic Synthesis of Biomolecules, and Non-enzymatic Replication of RNA

Chemical evolution process to synthesize biomolecules should take place prior to the origin of life. Simulation experiments for the chemical evolution revealed that biomolecules such as amino acids, components of nucleic acids could be formed abiogenetically. Living organisms require both an information carrier and a catalyst. The RNA world theory hypothesizes that RNA played the roles of an information carrier and a catalyst in an early stages of origins of life. Here, I describe some simulation reactions of chemical evolution, and plausible model reactions of the prebiotic synthesis of RNA using a catalyst such as metal ions and clay minerals. Model reactions showed that replication of short-chained RNAs took place non-enzymatically. Obstacles for the RNA world theory are also described briefly.