Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains.

On its own, it was inert, its fragile RNA chain protected by a unique and rigid matching strand of silicon.

These nucleotides are produced by covalent modification of a normal nucleotide after it has been incorporated into an RNA chain.

Competition between RNA may have favored the emergence of cooperation between different RNA chains, opening the way for the formation of the first proto-cell.

Eventually, RNA chains randomly developed with catalytic properties that help amino acids bind together (a process called peptide-bonding).

These amino acids could then assist with RNA synthesis, giving those RNA chains that could serve as ribozymes the selective advantage.

That is, it dismantles the RNA chain starting at the 3' end and working toward the 5' end.

The curve at the bottom of the RNA chain was seemingly never the same way twice, as snowflakes had almost infinite patterns, but that didn't matter.

It then produces an RNA chain, which is complementary to the template DNA strand.

Shorter RNA chains were able to replicate faster, so the RNA became shorter and shorter as selection favored speed.