Chapter 4 - Nucleic Acids and the Origin of Life - 4.3 - The Large Molecules of Life Originated from Small Molecules - 4.3 Recap - Learning Outcomes - Page 77: 1

Ribozymes are catalytic RNAs that can accelerate the rate of reactions involving the nucleotides in the RNA and other substances as well. The discovery of ribosomes proved important for developing the "RNA world" hypothesis because it was suggested that early RNA could have catalyzed its own replication and synthesized proteins. RNA is also thought to be the evolutionary predecessor of more complex and stable RNA.

Ribozymes are catalytic RNAs that can accelerate the rate of reactions involving the nucleotides in the RNA and other substances as well. The discovery of ribosomes proved important for developing the "RNA world" hypothesis because it was suggested that early RNA could have catalyzed its own replication and synthesized proteins. RNA is also thought to be the evolutionary predecessor of more complex and stable RNA.