A ribozyme is a type of RNA molecule that has the ability to act as an enzyme, catalyzing specific biochemical reactions. Unlike typical enzymes, which are usually proteins, ribozymes demonstrate that RNA can have both genetic information and catalytic activity. This property supports theories about the origin of life, particularly the RNA world hypothesis, which suggests that early life forms may have relied solely on RNA for both genetic material and enzymatic activity before the evolution of DNA and proteins.
New to topics? Read the docs here!