The RNA "Replicator"

In the box below the imagined progression from primordial soup to replicating RNA is illustrated and summarized.

RNA replication began after reactive nucleotides  began to accumulate in the "primordial soup" (a).   The first polymers were possibly catalyzed by mineral surfaces (b) and we get a random collection of RNA strands.  Those that are able to catalyze new RNA (catalyst) will begin to make complementary copies of themselves (c) and form  double chains (helix) (d).  After separation of original (catalyst) and complementary copy (e), the copying of  complementary strands leads to new copies of the catalyst (f) and repeated copying of catalyst and  complementary strands (g+h) leads to multiple copies of catalyst and complement.

Background Music: Midi transcription of B-DNA from Nucleic Acid Data Base Project