Q. 9. The first genetic material could be
(a) protein
(b) carbohydrates
(c) DNA
(d) RNA
(d) RNA was the first genetic material. There is now enough evidence to suggest that essential life processes (such as metabolism, translation, slicing, etc.), evolved around RNA.
RNA used to act as a genetic material as well as a catalyst (there are some important biochemical reactions in living systems that are catalyzed by RNA catalysts and not by protein enzymes). But RNA being a catalyst was reactive and hence unstable.
Therefore, DNA has evolved from RNA with chemical modifications that make it more stable. DNA being double-stranded and having a complementary strand further resists changes by evolving a process of repair.
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