"Rethinking Life's Origin: The Amyloid Hypothesis"
New research suggests that amyloids, which can form under early Earth conditions and bind with RNA and DNA, may have played a crucial role in the emergence of life by increasing molecular stability and promoting cooperation. The study demonstrates that amyloids can bind with molecules of both RNA and DNA, potentially representing a precursor to the universal genetic code. The interactions between amyloids and genetic material increase stability, which may have provided a significant advantage in the ancient, dilute environment, suggesting that molecular cooperation, rather than competition, could have been the decisive factor in the origin of life.