Editing RNA world (section)

==== Limitations of information storage in RNA ====
The chemical properties of RNA make large RNA [[molecule]]s inherently fragile, and they can easily be broken down into their constituent nucleotides through [[hydrolysis]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Lindahl T | title = Instability and decay of the primary structure of DNA | journal = Nature | volume = 362 | issue = 6422 | pages = 709–715 | date = April 1993 | pmid = 8469282 | doi = 10.1038/362709a0 | s2cid = 4283694 | bibcode = 1993Natur.362..709L }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Pääbo S | title = Ancient DNA | journal = Scientific American | volume = 269 | issue = 5 | pages = 86–92 | date = November 1993 | pmid = 8235556 | doi = 10.1038/scientificamerican1193-86 | s2cid = 5288515 | bibcode = 1993SciAm.269e..86P }}</ref> These limitations do not make use of RNA as an [[information storage]] system impossible, simply energy intensive (to repair or replace damaged RNA molecules) and prone to mutation. While this makes it unsuitable for current 'DNA optimised' life, it may have been acceptable for more primitive life.