Primordial DNA spontaneously appeared 4 billion years ago

Scientists say early DNA-like fragments guided their own growth They claim the process can drive the formation of chemical bonds These connect short DNA chains to form long ones for life to evolve This self-assembly capability has been shown to take place in RNA

By Ellie Zolfagharifard For Dailymail.com

Published: 12:53 EST, 7 April 2015 | Updated: 14:27 EST, 7 April 2015

Scientists believe life on Earth began evolving around 3.8 billion years ago.

But while they have been able to put a date on when life appeared, they are still far from knowing how it appeared.

Now researchers in the US and Italy say they have evidence that DNA-like fragments may have come with 'instructions' that guided their growth into complex life forms 4 billion years ago.

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Scientists believe life on Earth began evolving around 3.8 billion years ago, but they are still far from knowing how it appeared. Now researchers in the US and Italy say they have evidence that DNA-like fragments may have come with 'instructions' that guided their growth into complex life forms 4 billion years ago

RNA, which stands for ribonucleic acid, is a molecule made up of one or more nucleotides.

It is one of three major biological molecules that are essential for all known forms of life, along with DNA and proteins.

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Primordial DNA spontaneously appeared 4 billion years ago