In 1967 , Carl Woese hypothesized that RNA might be catalytic .
In 1967 , Carl Woese suggested that the earliest forms of life ( self - replicating molecules ) could have relied on RNA both to carry genetic information and to catalyze biochemical reactions -- an RNA world .
In 1967 , Carl Woese hypothesized that RNA might be catalytic and suggested that the earliest forms of life ( self - replicating molecules ) could have relied on RNA both to carry genetic information and to catalyze biochemical reactions -- an RNA world .