"Supporters of the view that nucleic acid replication arose
first have generally argued that only a self replicating
system can provide the basis on which selection can build a
cooperative functional unit...."
I disagree for two reasons - the first is chemical selection
('changes in the composition of non reproductive or poorly
reproductive molecules...' Strickberger)
"...In the absence of self replication, function presumably
would quickly disappear and the 'organism' could not
maintain itself..."
Not true. An environmentally forced replication would do
better, last longer, and give a longer grace period
(with little protein) to perfect the system. I suggest a
heat cycle of denaturing and annealing nucleotide
hybrids in two ways - unfolding of single strand folded
up RNA and 'reading'
it: or like PCR, the denaturing of strands and annealing
them in new hybrid forms.
Also note there is no such thing as SELF replication. All
replication is tied to the environmental temperature and
could not happen at extremes of temp.
"...Scientists have sought for an autocatalytic process to
explain the origin of a 'naked gene' that could replicate
itself without the help of proteins."
The non random, heat cycle caused by the sun (hot-dry/ cool
wet, with UV etc.) would be the process that could replicate
molecules without the help of much protein for the early
stage. (quotes from Evolution, Strickberger)
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