Chemists say they have found a way to make a DNA-like molecule assemble itself in a pond-like setting—potentially suggesting a key step in how life originated. The researchers actually worked with a simpler molecule, called pre-RNA. It’s hypothesized to have eventually evolved into DNA—one stopping point along the way having been the creation of a third substance, RNA, still used in the body to translate the code inscribed in DNA.

Chemists say they have found a way to make a DNA-like mol­e­cule as­sem­ble it­self in a pond-like set­ting-po­ten­tially sug­gest­ing a key step in how life orig­i­nat­ed. The re­search­ers ac­tu­ally worked with a sim­pler mol­e­cule, called pre-RNA. It's hy­poth­e­sized to have even­tu­ally evolved in­to DNA-one stop­ping point along the way hav­ing been ...